Will US attack Iran?

As measured against attack on Iraq's Osirak nuclear reactor, a strike against Iran would be harder by several orders of magnitude. Iran has built bunkers and subterranean chambers inside mountains where the actual centrifuges could be replaced at a quick pace. The attack would also result in shoring up support for Iran's ruling clerics and spawning hatred against the West.

The chances of Israeli attack on Iran's nuclear sited too are dim as Iran's foreign minister has averred many a time that the Iranians would treat an Israeli attack as if it were an American one. The reason being that in case of aerial sortie, Israeli jets would have to cross Iraqi airspace controlled by the US. The myth of Israel's invincibility has already been shattered in a 34-day war with Hezbollah last year and it has exposed the weakness of the Israeli government.

After two weeks deadline given to Iran last month, it has given a non-committal one page letter to the six powers containing no reply as such to their offer. On August 11, the 27-member European Union announced new sanctions against Iran including restrictions on public loans and tougher cargo inspections. The EU and US have also imposed restrictions on the activities of Iran's largest bank. Iran has already faced three rounds of economic sanctions by the UN but the effect of sanctions is watered down because of the reluctance of China and Russia.

Given this scenario, it is far-fetched to assume the likelihood of Iran's willingness to halt its nuclear programme at any cost. Concomitantly, the military action is not practicable as it will not achieve the desired results. Thus, the US will have to eat a humble pie by modulating its stance over the issue substantially. America will have to come to grips with the limits of its over-stretched imperialistic power and learn to live in reality.

The writer is a law student, Punjab University

Email:naumanasghar18@yahoo.com