Iran's Nuclear Programme and the Security Council

Bahman Nirumand calls on the West to take a closer look at Iran: "There are also moderate forces at work within the government. Even conservatives reject President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's confrontational policies. The signs of Tehran's adopting a softer tone which could be observed over the past few weeks throw light on a power struggle that has become increasingly fierce since Ahmadinejad made his radical statements. It's thanks to the moderate forces within the government that Tehran described Russia's offer to produce nuclear fuel in Russia as 'positive' and as a 'possible way out of the crisis', and that just last Monday an Iranian delegation tried to prevent Europe from making 'rash decisions'. The question now is which faction within the Iranian parliament will win the battle. The answer depends to no small extent on the West's response. Threats, sanctions or a military attack will only serve to strengthen the radicals' position and silence the voices which today rise in opposition to Ahmadinejad's policies."

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