Iran will face tougher sanctions if it goes ahead with its ambitious nuclear programme.
The UN Security Council has already adopted some resolutions to this effect in order to exert pressure on the Iranian regime to suspend its uranium enrichment activities. So far, Iran has refused the Security Council's demands, insisting that its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes only.
The United States and Western countries accuse Tehran of developing nuclear weapons and have voiced their concern over Iran's nuclear activities.
On the other hand, the US is accusing Iran of trying to undermine its plan in the Middle East by extending its influence in Iraq and arming anti-American Iraqi militias with sophisticated weapons.
Moreover, Iran wants to play the role of a superpower in the Middle East and challenge the US and its Western allies in the region.
Iran is also accused of funding, arming and training Hezbollah in Lebanon and other radical Islamic groups with money and political support and of forming an axis with Syria against Israel and the US.
In addition to the above accusations, Iran is also accused of human rights violations in the country.
However, the main bone of contention is the nuclear issue. Some believe that Iran is seeking to possess nuclear weapons, while others have their own observations without concealing their doubts on the intentions of Iran's nuclear programme.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was the first to investigate Iran's nuclear programme and reported the country's failure to meet its safety obligations.
Opinion is, however, divided into three different schools of thought about Iran's ambitions.
First, Russia and China have some doubts on Iran's nuclear intentions, but they do not pose a danger to Iran's nuclear programme. They have repeatedly expressed their strong opposition to any military action against Iran.
Second, some European countries believe in diplomacy and held tough negotiations with Iran without reaching any positive result. These countries prefer to continue diplomatic pressure.
Third, the US adopts a hostile policy against Iran and strongly opposes its policies and nuclear activities and is demanding tougher sanctions.
The US is the prominent opponent to Iran's nuclear programme. Even though the US opposes Iran's policies, it has gained from it. The US uses Iran's claims of military capabilities to justify its plans to deploy an anti-missile shield in Poland and the Czech Republic, much to the chagrin of Russia.
The international equation changed after Nicolas Sarkozy took over the French presidency. Sarkozy's keen interest in ensuring Israel's security makes him closer to the US than his predecessor Jacques Chirac.
Policy
France is reaping the fruits of its new policy of rapprochement with the US and this can be made out from two major events.
First is the visit by French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner to Iraq, which marks a new chapter in France's relations with the US.
Second, Kouchner's remarks that the world should prepare for a war against Iran. Although he later sought to downplay his remarks, this does not conceal France's US-centric policies. Lately, leaked reports has revealed that the US is drawing up plans to launch a military action against Iran to undermine its military and nuclear capabilities before the end of the second term of US President George W. Bush.
The US is applying more pressure on Iran, preparing the world stage for a possible military action against the Islamic republic in punishment for its nuclear activities.
Iran is facing a possible military action. It either should succumb to global demands or get involved in a war in which it will be the potential loser.
Mohammad Akef Jamal is an Iraqi writer based in Dubai.
