U.S. urged to look beyond Iran

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By Hilary Stohs-Krause THE WASHINGTON TIMES

With interest in atomic energy soaring throughout the Middle East - prompting fears of a regional nuclear arms race - a leading ally is warning the United States to broaden its nonproliferation efforts beyond Iran.

"This didn't start yesterday, and it's not about Iran alone," said Nabil Fahmy, Egypt's ambassador to the United States. "It's a much more complicated and complex issue."

"One problem we all face in the Middle East, and worldwide, is there's no real commitment to nuclear disarmament," Mr. Fahmy said at a recent conference sponsored by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington.

Interest in nuclear energy has metastasized in the Middle East, with at least 13 countries announcing plans to create new nuclear programs or restart previous programs between February 2006 and January 2007, according to a recent report by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).

"This upsurge of interest is remarkable, given both the abundance of traditional energy sources in the region and the low standing to date of nuclear energy," said John Chipman, director-general and chief executive of the London-based IISS.

Many Middle Eastern governments and analysts who specialize in proliferation say the attention is misplaced.

"There are a lot of different rationales behind the interest," said Peter Crail, research analyst for the Washington-based Arms Control Association. "I don't really think that's an either/or situation."

With the price of oil leaping higher and higher, nations such as Jordan and Morocco say they need more efficient means to produce energy. However, the IISS report said, others almost certainly seek a buffer against supposed nuclear weapons production by Israel and Iran.

"I think when talking about certain states like Saudi Arabia or Turkey or Egypt," this is the case, Mr. Crail said. "It's kind of a cascade effect. One state will have nuclear weapons, which makes another state want nuclear weapons. ... There is the potential for a broader, regional arms race."

However, both Mr. Crail and the report by IISS noted that the majority of programs are in early stages and face structural, financial and environmental challenges.