International TV interview with Ali Javadi
August 9, 2004

Maryam Namazie: Iran has angered USA and European countries by re-starting parts of its nuclear program and refusing to abandon efforts to master uranium enrichment. Iran has declared that threats to send its nuclear case to the U.N. Security Council will not make it drop its quest for nuclear technology. Why won’t it back down?

Ali Javadi: I believe all indications are pointing toward the direction that the Islamic regime of Iran is moving forward with its nuclear programme in order to equip itself with weapons of mass destruction. It seems to be the only way at this point in time that the Islamic regime can save itself from confronting the opposition and the protesting people and its contradictions. This is the regime’s last resort to save itself at this juncture.

Maryam Namazie: But the Islamic regime of Iran insists it is for peaceful purposes. Is that not the case?

Ali Javadi: This is what the Islamic regime claims. But all indicators and evidence state otherwise. The degree of the uranium enrichment found is much beyond that which is needed for peaceful purposes. Such a degree is designed for weapons use. Also it is clear that the Islamic regime of Iran wants to have access to nuclear weapons in order to change the balance of power and face the opposition particularly after ‘regime change’ having taken place in Iraq. The Islamic regime sees this as the only weapon possible vis-à-vis a regime change policy. They are striving to pursue the line that North Korea pursued, to access atomic weapons and position themselves differently vis-à-vis their confrontations in the world.

Maryam Namazie: Some would say the Islamic regime of Iran has a legitimate right to use advanced nuclear technology. Does it?

Ali Javadi: Peaceful technology and peaceful use of nuclear technology is something that is obviously within the domain of all countries but the Islamic regime is geared towards developing WMD and nuclear weapons. These Islamic beasts, this political movement must not be allowed to be equipped with the atomic bomb. As it is they are a machinery of killing.

Maryam Namazie: Some anti-imperialists like the fact that Iran is standing up to the USA, west and say Israel has such capabilities and so does several other western countries; why pick on Iran?

Ali Javadi: Israel should not have WMD. The USA should not have them. Israel’s having WMD doesn’t justify the Islamic regime having them. No one should have WMD. All of these weapons are geared towards the destruction of humanity and are a threat against people; the victims of these weapons are people alone. If you are on the people’s side, you can only argument for their elimination and have a movement to eliminate WMD rather than taking one side over the other.

What would be the purpose of the regime having these weapons? What would the further expansion of nuclear weapons in the world serve? It would only serve to increase the degree of threats against the people.

The history of this Islamic movement has shown what these weapons are used for. Anyone who is even a little familiar with the Islamic movement will not accept such an argument at all.

Maryam Namazie: Is it ever justifiable to have nuclear weapons? Some argue that it’s useful as a threat to maintain peace. Do you agree?

Ali Javadi: No, I don’t. The best argument here is that not having it is a much stronger weapon for peace. And if the peace movement could disarm the nuclear machinery, it would be a much stronger means for achieving peace.

Maryam Namazie: What should progressive people’s policies be towards the regime’s nuclear project?

Ali Javadi: They should oppose it. They should join our ranks to overthrow the Islamic regime of Iran; that’s the only way to stop the regime’s accessing nuclear weapons. The safest bet is to speed up the process of overthrowing the regime by the revolutionary movement of people. All progressive forces, socialist forces, all those who care for humanity and want to remove this danger from the world scene should join our ranks to oppose the Islamic regime having access to nuclear programmes and also any other state.

The above is an International TV (http://www.anternasional.tv/english) interview dated August 9, 2004.