IU professors take on Iranian nuclear crisis

International efforts to stall Iran's nuclear program appear to have failed as the issue is now being referred to the U.N. Security Council, opening the prospects of political or economic sanctions, according The Associated Press. \nThe move is another in a series of steps taken by Tehran since new Iranian President Mohammad Khatami assumed office that have included further intentions to pursue uranium enrichment for a nuclear program and calls for the destruction of Israel. \nWhile international tension escalates between Iran and the West, IU professors gave differing explanations of why the situation is taking place and potential ways the crisis can be resolved. \n"There's a lot to be concerned about," said political science associate professor Dina Spechler. "The (Iranian) claims that the Holocaust is a myth, the government's support for militant Shiites in Iraq, its funding and arming of Hezbollah in Lebanon and its apparent willingness to fund the operations of Hamas against Israel are all major issues."\nSpechler added concern with the U.S. policy of not directly negotiating with Tehran. He instead suggested that the United States should support Russia's dealing with Iran because it is a much more soft-line and non-confrontational approach. \nDespite the Security Council referral, Spechler said sanctions on Tehran are unlikely as the AP reports opposition from Council members, Russia and China, who both hold veto power. In the event of a veto she said that it could be "a very humiliating defeat for the U.S."\nPolitical science professor Jeffrey Hart, agreed with Spechler's assessment that this situation is a major concern for the United States.\n"The buildup here reminds me of Iraq," he said. "But it seems we are trying to get it right this time in terms of information. We are sitting back and thinking more carefully about what our next move should be."\nChair of the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Cultures Nazif Shahrani argued that the underlying cause of the growing rift between Iran and the West can be attributed to a "cultural disconnect" between the two sides.\n"There is no trust between Europeans, Americans and Muslims, and it is a sad, sad thing," he said. "Real security is based on relationships of trust. What have we been doing to build that?"\nShahrani went on to say that Iran has reason to distrust the United States, as the American government has violated U.N. treaties, ignored offers to join non-proliferation agreements and based its relationships with Middle Eastern countries around oil. \nThe election of a right-wing leader propagating potential Iranian aggression just fuels the fire of mistrust, he said.\n"It is unfortunate that Iranians elected a young man who is saying such things," said Shahrani, referring to Khatami's calls for the destruction of Israel and his speeches supporting uranium enrichment, which could be used to build a nuclear bomb. \nHowever, Shahrani said that the United States should be careful of criticizing Tehran's attempt to obtain a nuclear bomb, while the United States itself posses a large arsenal of nuclear weapons. \n"This is a serious problem, but it will not serve the interest of the U.S. to get involved when we are not yet consistent," he said.\nShahrani added that in the unlikely event that the United States uses a military solution in Iran, the situation "will be 100 times worse than Iraq."\nAnthropology professor Rick Wilk said that while it is easy to demonize him, it is possible Khatami could lead the nation to peaceful relations with the West. He also was critical of the United States labeling of Khatami as radical or extreme, as an alternative moderate government would be even more impractical. \n"The Iranian leaders could make peace with the West without being labeled as 'selling out,'" Wilk said. He added that moderates "would have been booted from office" in Iran for appearing too weak. \n"It's really scary to think of Muslim fundamentalists controlling nukes," he said. "But our own bunch of radical Republicans can be equally scary"