Amid the recent comments by French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner that the world should prepare for war with Iran if they produce nuclear weapons pervades an uneasy and growing tension between Islamic and non-Islamic governments. Not before the current US occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan have ceased, now France has begun demonizing Iran and drawing sides in preparation for a war with the nuclear ambitious Islamic state. How can the Western world set about a peaceful, diplomatic engagement with Iran if they constantly pigeon-hole them as the ultimate enemy set on an unalterable course to nuclear war? The answer is they can’t. The second that our rhetoric posits Iran as the newest nuclear enemy bent on their own path to war, any attempt at diplomacy is severely weakened leaving the West with few options short of war.

What then are we left with now? Well, number one, the West must stop demonizing Iran and work with them rather than against them to ensure they do only develop nuclear capabilities for a civilian purpose. Number two, the West, in particular the US and France, must not assume the possibility of war as that only leads the public to believe that war is ultimately our intention with Iran. In this case war is not only not desirable, but simply not an option considering the potential for mass civilian casualties coupled with the fact that the US is still bogged down in two reconstruction efforts currently. 

Furthermore the recent comments serve as a clear indication of intolerance and fear-mongering. If America’s conflict with Iraq serves as any example, France should not be so quick to speak of war in any foreseeable future. This is how wars start—on the drawing board. Not only have these comments ceded the notion that France views sanctions as a weak option, but they also only entice Iran to continue seeking nuclear development. No sooner than economic sanctions are placed on Iran, now France along with mention of Germany is already gearing up at least mentally for a future armed conflict with Iran. 

In all fairness, Iran should be allowed to develop peaceful nuclear capabilities. The double-standard that exists in the Western world is one where they are allowed to diversify their energy capabilities while other non-allied governments are not. Not only is this rhetoric inherently flawed, but also it is a key contributor to the pervading mindset of mainly Islamic governments-that the West can and does what it wants while others are not allowed.

Finally, the West has to understand that while they, again France in particular, continue to employ and further develop nuclear capabilities for civilian use they serve as an example of the positive effects of nuclear energy. How then can they not expect Iran or any other non-nuclear state to deny themselves the same benefits of a renewable energy source? The answer here is once again they can’t. This leaves the West with only one viable option of allowing Iran to develop nuclear technology strictly for civilian use while simultaneously working diplomatically to ensure Iran’s intentions do not stray into militaristic ambitions. The advantages here are two-fold. While this would provide an opportunity for the West to work with Iran rather than pursuing a collision course for war, it would also serve to protect the West’s security interests as Iran would be monitored throughout the developmental process according to IAEA standards.