Department Of Political Science Telephone: Aligarh Muslim University Chairman: (0571) 2701720 Aligarh - 202002 AMU PABX : 2700916/27009-21 Chairman : 1561 Office :1560 FAX: 0571-2700528 Certificate This is to certify that Miss. Fatima Umme Rubab, Research Scholar of the Department of Political Science, A.M.U. Aligarh has completed her thesis entitled, “NUCLEAR POLITICS IN WEST ASIA: A STUDY OF IRAN”, under my supervision. This thesis has been submitted to the Department of Political Science, Aligarh Muslim University, in fulfillment of requirement for the award of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. To the best of my knowledge, it is her original work and the matter presented in the thesis has not been submitted in part or full for any degree of this or any other university. Prof. Mirza Asmer Beg Supervisor Maulana Azad Library, Aligarh Muslim University Dedicated To My Great Grand Father Syed Ashraf Jahangir Semnani Maulana Azad Library, Aligarh Muslim University All the praises and thanks are to almighty Allah (The Only God and Lord of all), who always guides us to the right path and without whose blessings this work could not have been accomplished. Acknowledgements I am deeply indebted to my father Late Prof. Syed Amin Ashraf who has been constant source of inspiration for me, whose blessings, cooperation, love and unconditional support always helped me. May Allah give him peace. I really owe to my mother Prof. Ummehani Ashraf who always inspires me a lot. I’m extremely grateful to my supervisor, Professor Mirza Asmer Beg Department of Political Science, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, for suggesting this topic and for helping me to acquire the confidence to embark upon this work. I owe him more supports, ideas and thoughts than it can be given due credit here. From inception to conclusion, this study owes so much to him. I convey my sincere thanks to the Chairman, Professor Nigar Zuberi, Department of Political Science, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, for providing necessary research facilities. I also extend my profound thanks to Prof. Arif Hameed, Prof. Mohd. Abid, Prof. Nafees Ansari, Prof. Waseem Ahmed, Dr. Naseem Khan, Dr. Farhana Kausar, Mr. Aftab Alam, Dr. Naghma Farooqui and all other teachers of the Department whose valuable guidance and good wishes helped me considerably in the pursuit of my work. A special thanks however, goes to my non teaching staff of the Department of Political Science, A.M.U. Aligarh especially Mr. Hammad, Mr. Asaf, Mr. Sulaiman,… I would also like to thank each and everybody who have been directly or indirectly Maulanainvolved Azadin or have beenLibrary, the part of my Aligarh research work, Muslimand who has contributed University in any way in completing my work. Every help counts and sometimes the little thing in life bring a lot change. Thanks to everyone! Fatima Umme Rubab CONTENT Certificate Acknowledgement Introduction 1-7 Chapter -1 8-33 WEST ASIA: AN INTRODUCTION Chapter -2 34-68 REASONS BEHIND INSTABILITY IN THE REGION Chapter -3 69-93 ARMS RACE IN REGION Chapter – 4 94-124 IRAN’S NUCLEAR DEVELOPMENT AND ITS I MPACT ON WEST ASIA Chapter -5 125-145 TRENDS AND FUTURE PROSPECTS FOR MaulanaMIDDLE Azad EAST Library, Aligarh Muslim University Conclusion 146-152 Bibliography 153-162 Introduction Maulana Azad Library, Aligarh Muslim University Introduction INTRODUCTION The current political condition in Middle East is going from bad to worse. There is no doubt in saying that if world war III may happen the spark will arise from Middle East. Middle East is facing the unending list of problems like terrorism, external intervention, inter-state war, ethnic conflicts, political upheavals sectarian violence, falling oil prices, crash of stock markets and exchange rates and religions differences, etc. There are three prominent countries of Middle East which are playing important role in Middle Eastern politics. These are the Sunni Saudi Arabia, the Shia Iran and newly born state of Israel. Saudi Arabia and Iran had long time differences on the basis of religion, influence and dominance. Israel is the only non-Arab and Jew country which had managed to gain its strong hold in the regional politics and decisions. Things have changed now Saudi Arabia and Israel are coming closer to counter their common enemy, which is Iran. The emergence of nuclear technology and weapons had greatly influenced the world power structure. Earlier there were only two countries having the nuclear weapon, these are the United States and Soviet Union and they were the most powerful nations of the world and there was bipolarity in international relations. Later, countries like Britain, China and France had become the powerful owners of this disastrous technology. By this the arms race started and countries like India, Pakistan had made nuclear weapons. In Middle East, Israel is supposed to have nuclear bombs though it does not claim. Saudi Arabia is under safe umbrella of United States and is demanding the authority of having nuclear weapons, now the state of Iran is very ambitions and keen for being nuclear state since 1950s for countering its rivals in the region. The thing which makes the world against Iran’s nuclear development is its track record which shows MaulanaIran’s involvement Azad inLibrary, disturbances inAligarh other countries Muslim of region, extremist University religious leaders, anti-west sentiments and unexceptance of Israel, all this leads to the threat of proliferation and misuse of the most dangerous weapon. Iran is working on its nuclear advancement in the name of civilian or peaceful purposes but United State and its allies had traced the secret nuclear sites of Iran 1 Introduction where nuclear development programme is going speedily which had raised alarm of not only west but of the regional rivals too. Considering all aspects of Middle Eastern politics and focusing on Iran’s nuclear development which is the most happening topic of today in the world, I have decided to carry out research work on the topic “Nuclear politics in West Asia: A study of Iran”. To make a systematic study I have divided my thesis into five chapters and hence my research emphasizes upon: (1) Geo-political and strategic locations of Middle East and its importance. (2) Study and analysis of non-state actors, arms race in, the region and nuclear development and Iranian role in Middle East. (3) Trends and future prospects for Middle East. The work is further divided into five different chapters – In the first chapter there is a brief introduction of Middle East, its geography, history, religious and sectarian orientations. The land of Middle East is the crossroad of three continents that is Africa, Asia and Europe. Middle East is the region which is blessed with the hydrocarbons in abundance which is the life blood for economic growth and Military. These blessings on Middle East have become curse for the region and this region is the most volatile region on earth. We cannot ignore the religious importance of this region as it is the land which has given almost all major monotheistic religions. Christianity which is the largest followed religion followed by Islam, the second most worshiped religion and Judaism, the religion which become the basic factor behind the creation of Israel and had changed the map of Middle East. Along with these major religions there are many sects or small religious groups like Zoroastrians, Yazidis, Druzes, etc. The geographical importance of Middle East also is one of the major reasons behind the conflicts and instability in the region. As American Naval historian A.T Mahan Maulanadescribed it as “AzadMiddle Asia Library,” which later becomes Aligarh Middle EastMuslim is composed University of two crucial pieces, a resource rich eastern half and western half that possess the line of communications and travelling which includes – the Suez Canal, the Red Sea and the very controversial Persian Gulf. 2 Introduction The brief study of land, water bodies and mountains is done in this chapter. Agriculture is possible only in few areas of the region due to scarcity of water. The areas which are suitable for agriculture are the river basins of Nile along with Tigris and Euphrates river basins, the area of rich soil which forms an arc or crescent shaped parcel of land and includes the flood plain of Tigris and Euphrates and fertile land located on the eastern coast of Mediterranean Sea belonging to Israel and Lebanon. Many times the area of Nile river delta too is included and is often called as the “fertile crescent”. The discussion of Middle East is incomplete with out “oil”. It is the biggest oil producing region of the world and oil is supposed to be the root cause of all conflicts and war which had resulted into instability in the region. The chapter also gives the introduction of the countries of Middle East which are developing nuclear weapons or supposed to have developed like Iran, Iraq and Israel. In the second chapter of this research work “Reasons behind instability in the region” are dealt along with the causes of the instability, constant war, non-state actors and the causes of the emergence of the terrorist groups and the phases of development of terrorism in Middle East. Islam being majorly followed in all countries of Middle East, except Israel, is used for collecting young men from all over the world to fight in the name of ‘jihad’ and “Islamism”. This chapter also covers major terrorist groups or non-state actors of the region like ISIS, Al-Qaida, Hamas, Hezbollah, etc and their supporting organizations which are active in almost every country of the region. The third chapter is an attempt to analyze the “Arms race in the region” which is most debatable and hot topic of today.