Political science department hosts panel discussion
Gambrell Hall played host to a panel discussion on the Iran nuclear controversy featuring several prominent figures and university faculty Wednesday night.
The panel — a joint effort from the political science department and the College of Liberal Arts — ran for about two hours and was attended by both students and an older crowd of faculty and community members.
Robert Cox, political science professor and director of the Walker Institute of International and Area Studies, moderated the panel of four and briefed the audience on the situation.
"The situation in Iran is tense and difficult," Cox said. "The controversy has been a long-standing one. It has been suspected since 2003 that Iran has been enriching uranium and that these activities have increased since the election of [President Mahmoud] Ahmadinejad."
According to the panelists, Iranian officials have claimed that the development is for peaceful purposes only, but the rest of the world isn't so sure.
"The international community suspects that there's weapons motivations," said Fatemeh Haghighatjoo, a Provost Visiting Scholar and former member of Iranian Parliament. "This is an important matter. I hope someday ... everybody will wish for peace."
Haghighatjoo fought for human rights in Parliament, earning her the nickname "Lion Woman" from supporters and media worldwide. According to Haghighatjoo, Iran once had very few centrifuges for the enrichment of uranium, but now has over 9,000, much to the chagrin of the U.S. and Iran's neighbor, Israel.
"Nuclear development gives Israel the right of self-defense," said Josef Olmert, an adjunct professor and veteran of the Israeli government. "By 2013, they may have enough to create atomic bombs. We are at the stage where we only have five or six months before it's too late."
The panel touched on a variety of points, including Iran-Israel relations and American policy toward the matter. According to panelist Thomas Crocker, a Yale Law graduate and member of the USC School of Law faculty, President Obama and presidential candidate Mitt Romney have both stated that they will not allow Iran to freely develop nuclear weapons.
The speakers also engaged in debate with audience members.
"This violates the basic rights of the Iranian," Haghighatjoo said. "I am standing here as a dissident of that regime. Brothers and sisters, time is of the essence. We shall advocate for peace, or else, another war."