Iran's nuclear aims, no matter if they are peaceful or war-like, could lead to proliferation of nuclear technology – something the U.S. greatly fears.
"The fact is that that enrichment very much increases tension in the Middle East, and it may even lead to other countries in the Middle East thinking of going for enrichment," former U.N. weapons inspector Hans Blix said, as reported by CNN.
And it's not just nuclear weapons that are causing tensions to rise in the Middle East...
In fact, Iran is calling for Russia to "honor a contract to sell a missile defense system to Iran," says Reuters. The contract was for the S-300PMU1 air defense missile, also called the SA-20. This weapon can reach targets up to 90 miles away, and is designed to take down cruise missiles and aircraft. The systems can be mounted on trucks, too.
So far, Russia has not followed through on the missile systems contract, which Israel suggests might be used to defend nuclear facilities against attacks.
Israel has said that it might attack Iran if it doesn't stop its march toward nuclear weapons... But the U.N. hasn't been able to do much beyond issuing sanctions against Iran, and it's been Russia (along with China) that has been blocking stronger actions against the country.
Bloomberg reports that Iran has been stockpiling "dangerous conventional weapons" too.
That's no surprise when you find that the Iranian government is giving billions of dollars in contracts to the Revolutionary Guard. The group, according to the BBC, "is estimated to have 125,000 active troops. It boasts its own ground forces, navy and air force and oversees Iran's strategic weapons."
Like the long-range missile program...
On Sept. 28, the country test-fired a missile with a range of 1,240 miles.
Interestingly, the Guard controls about one-third of Iran's economy, including more than half of the national telecommunications company (worth about $8 billion), the operation of Tehran's Imam Khomeini international airport, and now a new railway that will link a southeastern port to the main rail network. This new contract is worth $2.5 billion.
Even more insideous is news that the Guard has just replaced Iran's intelligence agency.
"On Wednesday, the Iranian opposition group responsible for exposing much of Iran's controversial nuclear-fuel program claimed in an interview that seven different agencies have now been subordinated to Mr. Taeb's group, the Intelligence Organization of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, gutting the intelligence ministry of power," reports The Wall Street Journal.
This buildup of power and weapons in Iran has sparked moves by neighboring countries, like Saudi Arabia and the U.A.E. to upgrade military forces and technology.
"The spending offers U.S. and European defense companies such as BAE Systems Plc and Lockheed Martin Corp. as much as $40 billion in sales, mostly in the next two to five years, analysts estimate. Some of these deals may be discussed at the Dubai Air Show starting Nov. 15," says Bloomberg's Henry Meyer and Sabine Pirone.
According to the article, Saudi Arabia is considering another purchase of jets made by Eurofighter Jagdflugzeug GmbH (a joint venture by BAE, Italy's Finmeccanica, and the Franco-German EADS) to build on the 72 jets it bought with a $7.25 billion contract back in 2007; six frigates from Italy's Fincantieri for $2.2 billion; and even warships from France's DCNS.
The UAE may spend as much as 8 billion euros on 60 Rafale jet fighters from France's Dassault Aviation; $7 billion on a missile defense system from Lockheed Martin and Raytheon; and may buy four C-17 military transport planes from Boeing.
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So, Hans Blix suggestion and yours of "The fact is that that enrichment very much increases tension in the Middle East, and it may even lead to other countries in the Middle East thinking of going for enrichment," is NULL and Mr. Blix is just full of it.
You also say Iran is calling for Russia to "honor a contract to sell a missile defense system to Iran,". But as you see it is "missile defense system" and not an offensive weapon. You don't want the Iranians to be defenseless do you?! The Iranians have to stand up on their own feet and basically defend themselves. Now if the Arabs want to spend their hard earned OIL money with us on the new weapons that they can't use the better for us! don't you agree?
It is not the Iranians that have increased the tension or threaten on daily basis that they will bomb Telaviv or DC! It us and the Zionists who constantly scaring the region and Iran with bombing and "the military option is still on the table". It was not Iran that invaded Iraq or Lebanon or Gaza and created this human tragedies, it was the Zionists and us!! may be that is why every country in the region is buying military goods!! Can't you get that?