Only US and Iran
In the spirit of Easter, last week brought the opportunity for European peace-activists to hold anti-war demonstration, like they do every year.
This year?s peace demonstrations took place in different countries in Europe in which the current war in Iraq and opposition to possible military operations in Iran were also expressed. In fact with the deterioration of relations between Islam and the West over the nuclear issue, the chances of military operations against Iran have been growing and are the focus of world public attention. What is noticeable is that the direction of the discussions in the West has progressed from ?a possible aggression? against Iran to ?how to prevent it.? In other words, more and more people join the ranks of those who view Iran as a potential target for military operations. What is causing this change is the growing tension between the Islamic regime in Iran and the international community caused by the positions of the Iranian government. The coming to power of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his government must be viewed as a blessing for the warring faction in the US administration which uses every utterance the Iranian president makes to prepare and mobilize world public opinion for a military aggression against Iran.
In this atmosphere, it would be erroneous to over-estimate the reach of the anti-war demonstrations in the West, even though they are important events. One cannot forget yet the million men demonstrations that were held in the West before the invasion of Iraq in 2003. Not only did these events fail to stop the invasion itself, they did not even prevent the governments of Spain, Italy, and Britain from militarily cooperating in the invasion.
In the current crisis too, the only event that can prevent an attack on Iran is the opinion of public and policy makers in the US and Iran, and not street demonstrations in Europe. In Iran?s case, the most important consideration in preventing the country from being inflamed and ruined is the termination of the dangerous policies of the Iranian government. In Iran, the statement that was recently issued by the Daftare Tahkim Vahdat (the largest student organization in the country) is among the few critical voices that expressly question the nuclear policies of Iran?s rulers. The statement makes it clear that without an opportunity for the Iranian public to freely express their views on the nuclear issue, the current policies lack public and national support and legitimacy. Still, the level of response by Iranians regarding the government?s confrontational behavior in the nuclear issue is not proportionate to the threat that the country faces.
All those in Iran?s civil society, political groups, and insiders in Iran?s government who are concerned about a US military operation against Iran, must realize that if the current trends continue, a military attack is inevitable in the not-too-distant future. The slightest doubt on this, will affect the future of the Iranian nature for ever.