Nuclear test may embolden Iran to take the same path

North Korea8217;s claim to have tested an atomic bomb could embolden Iran as it defies the UN Security Council over its own nuclear programme, say analysts.

North Korea8217;s claim to have tested an atomic bomb could embolden Iran as it defies the UN Security Council over its own nuclear programme, say analysts.

For months, Iran has been under close scrutiny by the US and it8217;s allies. The world8217;s attention turned abruptly from Iran to North Korea on Monday. North Korea8217;s boldness could both encourage Iran to pursue its nuclear programme and deflect attention from Tehran.

Hamid Reza Shokouhi, a political writer at the moderate Mardomsalari Democracy daily newspaper in Iran, said North Korea8217;s reported test reduces pressure on Iran. 8220;The test doesn8217;t mean Iran will pursue a similar path because Iran is not after a bomb, but will help Iran to buy time and pursue its programme as the world concentrates on North Korea,8221; he said.

The international community8217;s determination to confront Iran also may be diminished because the UN Security Council will be preoccupied with a new crisis, said Ray Takeyh, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington, DC. 8220;If the US can8217;t build consensus for a tough reaction to North Korea, Iran may see that it can go down the nuclear path with impunity,8221; warned Robert Einhorn, former US assistant secretary of state for nonproliferation now a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

Elias Hanna, a former general of the Lebanese army and a military expert, said the North Korean test now gives Iran further ammunition to go forward with its plans regardless if they are peaceful or not. 8220;The Iranians have the intention to go on with the programme until the end. In Iran, the nuclear programme is related to the nation8217;s dignity, the continuation of the regime and the future Iranian role in the region,8221; Hanna said.

Meanwhile, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said today that UN sanctions against Iran would not weaken the Islamic republic8217;s resolve to continue its nuclear programme. 8220;Sanctions by European countries and the West won8217;t have any effect on our decision,8221; he was quoted as saying by the IRNA agency. 8220;As long as we resist it is a victory. It is a very simple formula,8221; the president added.

Government spokesman Gholam Hossein Elham said that Iran was 8220;hostile8221; towards the development of nuclear weapons, but said the big powers have to start disarmament. 8220;The best solution to combat nuclear weapons is for the big powers to start by destroying them themselves,8221; he was quoted as saying by IRNA. He pledged Tehran8217;s help if the world8217;s nuclear powers were serious in achieving this goal.