Kazakhstan, Astana, 26 Feb. / Trend, D. Mukhtarov /
The purpose of Iran's nuclear program is to help it become a gulf superpower, senior researcher at the Institute of Oriental Studies of Russian Academy of Sciences, Professor Vladimir Sazhin said.
"Iran needs nuclear infrastructure to somehow put pressure on the Gulf region, as well as neighboring regional powers, through its policy," Sazhin said.
The expert recalled that previously the Shah of Iran wanted Iran to become a superpower in the region.
"Now this dream is being fulfilled by Shiite religious figures. It is obvious that superpower status is unthinkable without nuclear weapons. Iran directs its steps towards that," Vladimir Sazhin said.
He referred to an influential political scientist from Kuwait, who once confessed that "they (Kuwait) don't care whether Iran violates the Non-Proliferation Treaty of Nuclear Weapons."
"However, according to this influential political scientist from Kuwait, if Iran acquires the ability to produce a nuclear bomb, its policy not only in the region, but also in the South Caucasus, Central Asia, Persian Gulf will change dramatically," a Russian expert said.
In his view, the main danger is that Iran could develop nuclear weapons within five to seven years minimum.
"Another danger is that as part of a domino effect, other countries will follow suit in the development of a nuclear bomb if Iran is successful. Saudi Arabia stated that they would build a bomb, if Iran does," Sazhin said.
The third danger is in the spread of nuclear weapons, which may be acquired by terrorist groups.
"One thing is when nuclear weapons are possessed by states, another - by terrorists. The state always understands its degree of responsibility to the people, whereas terrorists deny the concept of people, recognizing only fanatical devotion to something. And who can guarantee that a "dirty bomb" wouldn't be used in Moscow, Brussels or London? This is the danger posed by the fact that Iran came closest to creation of the atomic bomb, which is central to preservation of the NPT," Sazhin said.
