“Iranium” is a highly interesting documentary on the recent history of Iran and its strive to develop a nuclear weapons program in the last decades. Unlike many other sources and documentaries on the issue, this film really delves deeply into the political and religious roots of the Iranian leadership and society, leading the country to become an adversary of the United States. It was interesting to learn how the Iranian government, beginning with Ayatollah Khomeini, has shaped an absolute hatred of the U.S. that has led to support of its violent policy that cannot be easily appeased.
As the documentary notes, the Iranian society with its ancient roots of deep cultural traditions and many intelligent minds has been vehemently “hijacked” by extremists. Now, many decades later, the extremist leaders and their policies are supported by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and terrorist groups such as Hezbollah. It was surprising to learn the extent of how large, well-funded, and powerful both organizations have become, embedded into Iranian government and economy.
The aspect which was the most engaging was in the latter parts of the documentary, discussing on how the Iranian nuclear program can be addressed on the international stage. There are a myriad of opinions ranging from military strikes to diplomacy to sanctions. However, it was most appalling how in the discussion of a doomsday scenario of an Iranian nuclear attack, the very same extremist philosophy mentioned earlier would make them disregard the key principle upheld by nuclear nations, mutually assured destruction.
Due to their religious beliefs, it would actually benefit them to pursue total annihilation (“Iranium”). This was a perspective I have not heard or considered beforehand, and in terms of international security, the pursuit of a nuclear program by Iran becomes even more troubling.
Works Cited
“Iranium.” YouTube, uploaded by Lord Iván Emiro Cañas Gutiérrez. 2015. Web.