John Hallam, UN Nuclear Weapons Campaigner, Abolition 2000: Why World Should Oppose War With Iran

PRIME MINISTER SCOTT MORRISON

FOREIGN MINISTER MARISE PAYNE

CC

ANTHONY ALBANESE

SENATOR PENNY WONG

RE: WAR WITH IRAN

Dear Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Foreign Minister Marise Payne,

I/We are writing to urge you

–Not to go to war with Iran

–To strongly urge others including the US, not to go to war with Iran

–To strongly support the JCPOA

–To seek a complete transformation in relations with Iran.

–War with Iran would likely be a complete disaster that would in all
probability, absent the prolonged occupation of that country, produce
precisely the result it was intended to prevent, namely a nuclear –
armed and deeply hostile Iran in which ‘progressive’ and ‘liberal’
forces were marginalized or completely extinguished. For these
reasons, not only should Australia NOT be involved in any military
action led by others against Iran, but it should also strongly oppose
any such action.

–Iran is widely acknowledged both by the IAEA itself, and by a
consensus of US intelligence serves, and even by the Israeli
intelligence service, not to be seeking nuclear weapons capabilities
and not to have a program leading to them. This is in stark contrast
not only to the DPRK with its well-developed nuclear program, but
(more to the point in the ME), to Saudi Arabia who have on a number of
occasions more than hinted at a desire to acquire nuclear weapons
themselves. These hints have indeed emanated from the very highest
quarters.

–The JCPOA, while it may not be the very highest nonproliferation
standard conceivable, represents a much higher and more intrusive
nonproliferation standard that that to which most countries including
both Australia and even more so Saudi Arabia, are subject. The Trump
administration case against the JCPOA has not been bought by anyone
outside the White House with the possible exception of Netenyahu. Even
Israeli intelligence concluded in the immediate aftermath of its
signing that Israel was better off WITH the JCPOA than without it.
Support outside the US in Europe and the UK remains solid.

–The basis of US hostility to Iran is to put it mildly, mysterious
and nonsensical. The only slender rationality to it seems to be that
the US supports Israel and Israel is hostile to Iran. Bluntly, this is
far from a sufficient reason for hostility and certainly not a reason
to push matters to the brink of hostilities.

It could reasonably be argued that the greatest sponsor of terror in
the Middle East and certainly by far the most toxic regime is in fact
that of Saudi Arabia and not Iran. Yet the US has chosen to give
massive military assistance to Saudi Arabia and threatens Iran with
military action.

It was noted earlier that Iran currently has no nuclear weapons
program. It is reasonable to suppose however, that some within the
Revolutionary Guard may want to have one.

Threatening Iran repeatedly with military action, or carrying out such
action is precisely the kind of thing that is calculated to put a
pro-bomb faction if it exists, into the driving seat, thereby
achieving precisely the result that the proponents of military action
say they want to avoid.

Military action against Iran is thus likely to ensure, not prevent, a
nuclear armed Iran.

John Hallam

UN Nuclear Weapons Campaigner,

People for Nuclear Disarmament

Joint Convenor,

Abolition2000 Working Group on Nuclear Risk Reduction