ManofFireandLight
This new study by the Oxford Research Group, suggests that bombing Iran would give them the final imperative to build a few small nuclear devices (presumably to commit a terrorist act or two). But with modern technology, couldn’t we target all their nuclear facilities and remove the risk of this happening. They obviously want Nukes - who wouldn’t with the threat of military action from the US or Israel or Britain? The question is, do we hit them before they hit us or do we wait for an attack like 9/11, only worse before responding?
“Far from setting back Iran’s nuclear programme , a military attack might create the political conditions in which Iran could accelerate its nuclear weapons programme”
Oxford Research Group report
Report warns against Iran attack
Military strikes against Iran could speed Tehran’s development of nuclear weapons, according to a UK think tank.
A report by the Oxford Research Group says military action could lead Iran to change the nature of its programme and quickly build a few nuclear arms.
Iran denies Western claims it is trying to build weapons, saying its nuclear programme is entirely peaceful.
The study comes as the UN nuclear watchdog is set to discuss the nuclear programmes of Iran and North Korea.
In February, Iran ignored a deadline set by the UN Security Council to stop enriching uranium.
A report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said Iran was instead expanding the programme.
Enriched uranium is used as fuel for nuclear reactors, but highly enriched uranium can be used to make nuclear bombs.
Western powers have threatened to expand sanctions on Iran. These could include travel bans on Iranian officials associated with nuclear and missile programmes.
The US has not ruled out using force but says it wants to give diplomacy a chance.
The Oxford Research Group report is written by nuclear scientist and arms expert Frank Barnaby.
“If Iran is moving towards a nuclear weapons capacity it is doing so relatively slowly, most estimates put it at least five years away,” he says.
Mr Barnaby adds that an attack on Iranian nuclear facilities “would almost certainly lead to a fast-track programme to develop a small number of nuclear devices as quickly as possible”.
He says it “would be a bit like deciding to build a car from spare parts instead of building the entire car factory”.
The BBC’s diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus says that with two US navy aircraft carrier strike groups in the Gulf region and US spokesmen refusing to rule out force, this study is timely and highlights what most air power experts have been saying for some time.
