Letters | 27 June 2009

A nuclear Iran

Sir: Should there be any doubt, following James Forsyth’s article (‘What to do about Iran and the bomb’, 20 June), that the Iranian government intends to build atomic weapons, it is answered by the forest of anti-aircraft weapons protecting their uranium enrichment plant at Nantaz.

When in the area two weeks ago I saw battery after battery of anti-aircraft weapons, manned, every kilometre in from 25 kilometres from the plant along the route they have assumed a foreign air strike would come, and more on the exit. The plant itself is protected by an impressive paraphernalia of watch-towers, wire and berms. Peaceful atomic work does not require such protection.

Nantaz symbolises the current Iranian tragedy. The ageing theocratic leadership is totally out of tune with the mass of young people — 70 per cent of the population are under 30 — who are proud of their country, respect their religion, but want to join the world, not be isolated in a pariah land.