Azerbaijan, Baku, July 28 / Trend , T.Konyayeva/
Hillary Clinton's statement is not only a warning to Iran, but also a signal to the radical representatives of the authorities to ensure that possession of nuclear weapons instead of the desired security will cause even more tension in the country.
"The statement [by Hillary Clinton] is also intended to signal hardliners in Iran that an Iranian nuclear weapon will not deliver Iran any absolute security, in the hopes of dissuading Iran from moving toward outright nuclear weapon capability," famous U.S expert on Middle East, Kenneth Katzman wrote to Trend in an email.
IRNA reported that yesterday, the Iranian Foreign Ministry's Press Secretary Hasan Gashgavi said in response to Clinton's statement that there was no need for a "defense umbrella", it is enough to destroy Israel's 200 nuclear warheads, the U.S.'s chief ally in the Middle East.
U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, visiting Asia last week, issued a statement that the United States will consider the establishment of a "defense umbrella" in the Middle East, if Iran continues developing a nuclear program that could lead to the creation of nuclear weapons.
The statement by Mrs. Clinton on a "nuclear umbrella" is not an admission that Iran is likely to gain nuclear weapons capability, but it is a recognition that this is a very strong possibility, Katzman said.
The statement is an effort to try to calm the Persian Gulf and other Middle Eastern states not to start an arms race because of Iran's nuclear program, by assuring these countries their security will be protected by the United States, he said.
Such a "defense umbrella" was used against the USSR in the past. This is a contract of the United States with the countries possessing nuclear weapons and being under the patronage of America, to deliver a response blow to those who would use nuclear weapons against them. Using the same "umbrella", the United States ensures the security of its allies in Asia.
"The "defense umbrella" will be able to protect countries in the Middle East from a nuclear weapon obtained by Iran," Professor of International Relations at the University of Durham (Great Britain), Anoushirvan Ehteshami told Trend on the phone. "There are some precedents, for example, Germany's "cold war", Japan in East Asia and this one in South Korea. This will be a very new departure for the Middle East region".
Obviously, that Americans are openly contemplating their actions in the region and Iran has to grapple with it because American nuclear weapon abilities are far greater than in Iran, Ehteshami believes.
Iran is reducing the opportunity for its own security because everybody else, who also acquires nuclear weapons, will come under the US nuclear umbrella extended over its allies, the expert believes.
In fact, no one denies the possibility of Iran's possessing nuclear weapons, but there are doubts about the possibility of its use as a guarantor of security. Politicians and experts have expressed growing concern about the possible resonance in the region: the Middle Eastern states may decide to develop nuclear programs for their own safety.
In this regard, the United States offers another way to keep Iran from developing nuclear weapons without military action - by the creation of a "defensive shield", which will actually become "Damocles sword" hanging over Iran.
"Mrs. Clinton hints her statement that the United States does not want to confront Iran militarily in its acquiring nuclear weapons," Professor University of Glasgow, Iranian Expert in London, Reza Tagizadeh told Trend on the phone. "But if Iran takes such a decision, the U.S. will deploy the "defense umbrella", which certainly reduces the security of Iran."
Tagizadeh believes that Iran's acquiring nuclear weapons did not ensure its safety, but in contrast to its expectations will lead to increase of the U.S. influence in the region.
Despite all nuclear ambitions, official Iran is probably aware of the seriousness of the possible course of events: if the United States and Middle East countries sign a secret agreement to establish a "defense umbrella", Iran's all attempts to become a hegemon in the region will be in vain.