The session has started. Please join us now with your questions.
Answer
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Name
Hassan
- United Arab Emirates
Profession
Student
Question
Dr. Trita,
What is your opinion if the war would occur or not, and even if a war occurs between these two countries, do you believe that there is a possiblilty of using nuclear weapons?
Answer
There have been discussions that if the nuclear sites are to be successfully destroyed, Israel or the US would have to use what they call tactical nuclear weapons. That would mean the use of nuclear weapons against a non-nuclear country. Obviously, the consequences in the region and beyond would be disastrous.
Name
Usman
- Pakistan
Profession
Engineer
Question
Hello,
How serious is Israel to attack Iran to destroy nuclear facilities? Is the attack inevitable in your opinion? and how sincere is Iranian leadership to defend its right for progressing its nuclear program?
Answer
War is by no means inevitable. The conflict between Israel and Iran, as well as the nuclear conflict, is startegic in nature and can be resolved through diplomacy.
As Israel's former foreign minister Shlomo Ben Ami and I recently argued in the Christian Science Monitor, the military option doesnt even provide a solution. Problem is of course that diplomacy is currently not being pursued in the sense of having the US and Iran talk to each other directly.
Name
Zahra
-
Profession
Question
What kind of logistical challenges Israelis would face if they decide to attack Iran? And to what extent can such a strike affect Iran's nuclear capabilities, given that Iranian already have the know-how?
Answer
This is an important question: Beyond the logistical problems Israel would face, Israel cannot destroy Iran's know-how unless they kill about 6000 or so Iranian nuclear scientists.
So as a result, a bombing campaign would at best delay the program a few years, while causing the Iranians to get more determined to get a nuclear device. So a few years after the bombing, Israel and the region would likely face a nuclear - and vengeful - Iran.
Name
Sidi Aly
- Senegal
Profession
administrator
Question
My question is focussed on the position of the gulf monarchies in case such attack happens. It is beyond doubt that these monarchies with strong Shiites minorities feel unhappy of the growing political and military power of Shiites in general and Iran in particular. Wouldn’t they welcome the Israeli attack to destroy or to greatly reduce the Iranian growing influence in the region?
Answer
Yes and no. The signals that have been sent by the Persian Gulf Monarchies seem to have been somewhat contradictory.
On the one hand, strong voices have been heard arguing that war would be devastating for the region, for the regional economies and for the political stability of the monarchies themselves.
On the other hand, some voices have been heard saying that beating Iran back is more important. There may be so that more than anything, the monarchies dislike the uncertainty of the situation: Will the US bomb or not? Either option may be deemed to be better than the current state of uncertainty.
Name
Dr. Harry Balz
- Costa Rica
Profession
Pharm.D.
Question
What effect did the recent Israeli demonstration of its air superiority play upon Teheran?
Answer
I don't think the Iranians are too concerned about an Israeli attack. Their concern is centered on an American attack. The Israeli exercise is likely more seen as an effort to create a sense of urgency and push the US to exercise its military option rather than Israel exercising its (non-existing) military option.
Name
Faiz
- Sri Lanka
Profession
Teacher
Question
Dear Dr.
Why is Israel (&US) so concerned about Iran holding nuclear power while Israel itself holds more than 300 nuclear arsenals? And what will be the repercussion in the region if such an attack occurs. Will Hizbullah and Syria come to the scene aided by Iran?
Answer
The concern isn’t necessarily about Iran’s ability to defeat Israel or the US in a nuclear war, but rather the shifting balance of power in the region if Iran becomes a virtual nuclear power.
Israel would lose much strategic maneuverability if the Arab side suddenly has a powerful backer in Iran, potentially depriving Israel of its current ability to impose on the Palestinians unilateral peace deals. Iran could also gain much leverage over its Arab neighbors, but the treat the Arabs would sense from a nuclear Iran would likely backfire on the Iranian objective to be recognized as a regional power. To achieve that objective, Iran needs buy in from its neighbors, which it will have a harder time getting if it is perceived as projecting a threat to them.
Name
Mohamed Ansary
- Egypt
Profession
Question
I do not believe these two nations will go to war at any time in the near future. Iran is to much preoccupied with schemes to dominate the Eastern part of the Arabian Peninsula area. It does not represent a danger to Israel as long as its agenda is fullfilled in Iraq and East Arabia? Do you agree?
Answer
I believe war can be avoided, but not necessarily for the reasons you mention. The answer lies in robust multilateral diplomacy in which all parties are brought to the table. On the flip side, if no robust diplomacy is pursued, the US and Iran will continue to gravitate towards conflict. And the repercussions for the region as a whole will be devastating.
Name
Ahmed
-
Profession
Question
Assalamu Alaikum,
Do you believe that Ahmedinajad would be willing to work with the Israelis, and do you think Olmert would be willing to work with Iran?
It might seem like an easy question, but with the way the US has made a "we will not negotiate with our enemies" policies, everyone is forgetting about JUST TALKING TO ONE ANOTHER.
The fact that they are predominantly Shia doesn't make me hate, because in the end, Iran is an Islamic country.
Waalikum Asslam
Answer
I don't see any direct cooperation between Iran and Israel in the making, but a different US-Iranian relationship will help bring about a different Iranian-Israeli relationship.
Name
Editor - Dina Abdel-Mageed
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Profession
Question
The session is over. We would like to thank Dr. Parsi for taking the time to answer your questions. We apologize for not answering all your questions due to time limitations.
