Questioning Iran's responsibility

Iran’s Bushehr nuclear plant is expected to go online Saturday, thanks largely to the aid of Russia, which this week supplied fuel for the plant.

Russia claims Iran can operate the plan peacefully and thus demonstrate nuclear responsibility. We must ask, however, when has Iran ever demonstrated responsibility?

Has Iran acted responsibly with Mohammad Mostafaei, the lawyer who is now seeking asylum in Norway because he dared defend human rights in Iran?

Has Iran acted responsibly with Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, Mostafaei’s most recent client, who was sentenced to death by stoning for adultery? The stoning sentence was eventually overturned after international uproar, but the mother of two still faces the death penalty, possibly by hanging.

Did Iran act responsibly with the 2009 elections? Was it responsible when Iran responded to protesters with violence?

Has Iran acted responsibly with its support of Hezbollah and Hamas?Hamas?

Does Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad act responsibly when he calls for Israel’s destruction?

The real question is why exactly does Russia think Iran will decide now to change its behavior, instead of using its newfound nuclear ability as a weapon in its agenda against human rights and peace?

Questioning Iran’s responsibility

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