Stop the nuclear chain reaction

Iran's nuclear crisis has officially entered a new phase, and frankly it is dangerous. In defiance of the UN Security Council, which has already imposed two rounds of sanctions on it, Tehran on Monday announced it had begun enriching uranium on "an industrial scale".

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad also promised that no amount of international pressure would prevent his country from taking its nuclear programme to new "summits", which he didn't explain.

The United States says Iran's ultimate goal is nuclear weapons. The Islamic republic denies this, but has yet to offer solid evidence of its peaceful intention. Its Arab neighbours repeatedly complained about obvious Iranian designs to flex its muscles and spread its influence in the region and its growing influence in some parts of the Arab world is viewed with suspicion. Tehran so far has failed to allay these fears.

Moreover, Iran, like all other states, must abide by international rules, as specified by the International Atomic Energy Agency. It has a natural right to peaceful use of nuclear energy, but its programme, in its current stage, represents a clear and present danger to its Gulf neighbours. And the theatrical stunts by Ahmadinejad are not really assuring. They only widen the gap of mistrust and provoke US counter-actions.

The Iranians realise the US administration is dead serious about doing everything in its power, including military force, to prevent Iran from acquiring the nuclear bomb. Therefore, the next few weeks might be critical to this region. With tension rising, "accidents" like the British sailor crisis could well lead to war, which experts say will be catastrophic in a way the region - which is used to wars - has never seen before.

The Americans must stick to the path of diplomacy to deal with the Iranian issue. Tehran meanwhile must also consider the interests of the entire region and ease the tension.