The US contradictory policies in the Middle East, including its double standards on the nuclear issue, have tarnished Washingtons global image, a political analyst tellsPress TV.In a Monday interview, James Fetzer pointed to the US continued pressures against Iran over its nuclear energy program while it keeps silent over Israels massive stockpile of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons, adding, American hypocrisy in the Middle East has never been more conspicuous and it is causing the United States to lose the respect of the world.
The analyst pointed to previous reports by 16 US intelligence agencies which confirmed that Iran is not pursuing nuclear weapons and said, So it is ridiculous for America to be pursuing policies that are based on the presumption that Iran is pursuing a program it is not pursuing and that its own intelligence agencies have confirmed.
In 2007, the US National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) verified that Iran was not after nuclear arms. The report, prepared by 16 US intelligence agencies, confirmed with high confidence the peaceful nature of Irans nuclear program. A similar report was also published in 2011.
Fetzer also lashed out at the Israeli lobby for pressuring the US vis--vis Irans nuclear dossier, adding, Israel knows exactly what weaknesses it can use to exploit, to extort, to blackmail members of the American Congress up to and including the president, alas.
The United States, Israel and some of their allies falsely claim that Iran is pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program, with the US and the European Union using the unfounded allegation as a pretext to impose illegal sanctions on Iran.
Israel, which is believed to be the sole possessor of nuclear weapons in the Middle East with 200-400 warheads, has repeatedly threatened to launch military strike against Iran over the countrys nuclear energy program.
Tel Aviv has refused to acknowledge that it possesses nuclear weapons and, unlike Iran, is not a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
Iran categorically rejects the allegation, arguing that as a signatory to the NPT and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), it has the right to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.
Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany are scheduled to hold talks in Geneva on October 15-16 to discuss issues regarding Tehrans nuclear energy program.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has described the upcoming nuclear talks as a litmus test for the seriousness of the world powers to resolve the matter.
By Press TV
The Iran Project is not responsible for the content of quoted articles.
