By Bahman Aghai Diba

How much Iranians have paid and are going to pay for having nuclear electricity? This can be seen in many aspects of the Iranian life:

1. Economy

1. Oil: Iranian economy depends on oil exports. However, Iran's oil industry is a house of cards. It is neglected, crumbling and underinvested. Many of its oil and gas fields are in dire need of foreign technical expertise. 

2. Gas:  While holding the second largest natural gas reserves in the world, Iran is not a serious exporter of the commodity. The EU seeks a lowering of its dependence on Russian energy, and Iran potentially could benefit by joining projects like the Nabucco gas pipeline. However, Iran's isolation and its poor relations with the international community are impediments that stand in the way. The so-called peace pipeline between Iran, Pakistan and India has not made any progress in spite of the enormous price reductions proposed by Iran. Iran's most important single source of natural gas is the South Pars field in the Persian Gulf, which it holds in common with Qatar. The tiny emirate across the Persian Gulf has been exploiting the gas from South Pars to the tune of billions of dollars, while Iranians helplessly witness the depletion of the reserves.

3. Iranian politicians have claimed many times that Iran's international isolation and the economic sanctions-including those imposed by the UN Security Council-have not hurt the country seriously, and they insist on continuing the nuclear program at all costs. In reality, however, Iran's oil and gas industry have suffered and will suffer further.

4. Pipelines and transit: The projected construction of oil and gas pipelines over the next 25 to 50 years all bypass Iranian territory and Iran will lose the transit fees, jobs, investment and prestige that accompany such projects. The United States supports Nabucco as a means of avoiding Russian participation in the European gas-supply chain, and has backed the participation of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and especially Turkmenistan in the project. Brussels and Washington are supporting the construction of a Trans-Caspian, natural-gas pipeline to run from either Kazakhstan, or more likely from Turkmenistan, along the seabed to Azerbaijan, where the gas would be pumped into pipelines leading to Nabucco.

5. Investment in other sectors:  Iran's mineral wealth, in addition to oil and gas, includes chromites, lead, zinc, copper, coal, gold, tin, iron, manganese, ferrous oxide, and tungsten. Commercial extraction of significant reserves of turquoise, fireclay, and kaolin is also possible. Prior to the Revolution in 1979, the government intended to develop the copper industry to the point that it would rival oil as a source of foreign exchange. Iranian copper deposits are among the world's largest. These sectors suffer from the lack of technology and investment.

6. Tourism: According to the world Ecotourism Organization, Iran, a country with high tourism potential and attractions. Iran, which ranks seventh worldwide in terms of tourist attractions, can earn billions from tourism. As a country with rich civilization and history, Iran unfortunately has a tiny share in the global tourist revenue. Countries like Turkey and Spain are making equivalent of Iran's oil revenue from tourism.

7. Commerce:  Membership of the WTO, banking operations in the international level are other victims. Iran is forced to buy many thinks in the back market with higher prices and without proper inspections procedures.

8. Airlines: the Iranian civilian airlines are in shambles. Iran has been forced to resort to the back market to gain even the second hand aircraft.  Russian and Chinese have sold many substandard aircraft to Iran and the government and people of Iran are really dissatisfied with these.

9. Getting loans from international institutions has faced difficulties.

10. Being deprived of the assistance that the IAEA provides to the states for their nuclear activities under the IAEA's rules.

2. Political issues

1. Bad relations with many states, including the USA id depriving the Iranian nation of many benefits if interaction with these countries. The Russians and Chinese and some other countries are getting advantages both from Iran and the West due to the situation of Iran.  The conditions in the Caspian Sea, the treatment of Russians in the Bushehr Power Plant, and sale of outdated items, including all kinds of the military equipments to Iran, are only some examples.

2. Loss of international prestige.  This has caused Iran to lose in many field including cultural affairs, scientific issues, the membership and activity in many international forums and organizations including the UN and its numerous specialized agencies, OPEC, and even regional organizations.

3. If the confrontation on the nuclear issue leads to military operations in various levels ( such as the US and Israeli attack to the nuclear installations, or the US and Israeli attack to the entire infrastructure of Iran), the destruction and possible disintegration of Iran will be the ultimate cost that Iranians will pay.  

These points, brings the question to mind: how much the people of Iran must pay for the nuclear electricity under present conditions?  Why not accept complete transparency in the program claimed to be peaceful?

... Payvand News - 12/01/09 ... --

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