Point of IAEA is?

What is the point of having the IAEA?

No seriously. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief, Mohamed ElBaradei, came out today stating that the Iran situation "is critical - not a crisis - and there is no imminent threat from Iran." He added that Iran has until March 6 to fully suspend its enrichment activities. It was also made clear that Iran already has a lifetime supply of material for their one nuclear reactor and does not have the need to enrich.

But the fear machine of the West is in full swing. A US-backed resolution sponsored by Britain, France and Germany could open the door to possible Security Council action against Iran. Probably most Americans are already convinced that Iran has nuclear weapons. The IAEA is set to vote today on whether it will report Iran to the UN Security council. If they vote in favor of reporting Iran, Iran will cease working with IAEA.

I am not a hater of freedom nor am I for the terrorists, but I do not understand this situation. The IAEA has stated that Iran is not threat. Iran has stated that they are not making nuclear weapons so why does the UN security council even need to be involved? When your country is reported to the UN security council it is because others think you are a security risk, logical right? Yet so far Iran has cooperated as asked. This is combined with South Africa being confident of a negotiated settlement to the Iran nuclear standoff and its hope of the solution being within the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The agreement with the Russians was on its way to taking place until this US backed stuff came into play. Looks like a bullying move.

A UN Security recommendation may state that there is no damning evidence but the fact you are even recommended to them puts doubt in Iran's honesty. I can imagine the difficulty for Iran to hear threats from countries like the US who has an estimated 10,656 deployed warheads, France with 350, and Britain with 200 demanding disclosure. Also don't forget that Iran is part of NPT and hasn't withdrawn from that.

Look, I can't argue with the logic that if you are a small country with little money to spend you aren't trying to get a nuclear weapon for security purposes. It’s like saying if you are fighting a guy who is 100 pounds heavier then you and you have a knife you decide to pass up the knife and just fight fist to fist. It’s not logical. When in a violent conflict you do whatever you can to try and even the playing field. Nuclear weapons do this.

Now that being said, by using violence and intimidation as a way to get people to do what you want you are just asking to be pushed back. Harder you push harder your opponent will push back. This is why fighting makes no sense to me. If somebody is not doing what you want and you punch them don't you expect for them to punch back? If somebody is not doing what you want and you listen, talk and reason with them you are much more likely to get a non-violent result. Its this power of persuasion, a tool that is often forgotten in international politics.

All I can do is hope that IAEA makes the right decision and the United States and other European countries respect that decision. Because if they don't? Then what is the point of establishing an international watchdog group that seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy and to inhibit its use for military purposes. I think the best solution to this whole thing, is what one senior Egyptian diplomat was advocating for and that was the creation of a nuclear-free Middle East zone (which of course would mean that Israel disarm its nuclear warheads, estimated at over 100).

Iran remains defiant. In a last-minute warning, Tehran's chief nuclear negotiator told IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei that his country would severely curtail U.N. inspections and resume uranium enrichment if reported to the council. Iran had suspended enrichment, needed to produce both electricity and nuclear weapons, as a confidence-building measure. This is not shaping up to be a good situation.

Links:
NTI: Nuclear Threat Inititiave
Iran Closer to Security Council Referral
by George Jahn (Washington Post)