The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty is inherently unfair, allowing only five select countries to reap the political and military benefits of possessing nuclear weapons. This inequality is further emphasized since nuclear proliferation to some countries has been tolerated, while attempts by other countries to acquire nuclear weapons are considered impermissible. The US-India Civil Nuclear Cooperation Initiative, for example, has surfaced when world attention is focused on thwarting Iran's nuclear ambitions. Unlike Iran, India, however, has demonstrated its dedication to democracy, transparency and working within the international system. Further, it has not deviated from its commitment not to proliferate nuclear weapons or technology. Iran, however, has repeatedly threatened the global agenda by its state-supported terrorism, call for the destruction of other countries, and overt hostility to the international system. The significant fact is that differences do exist in the risk and danger from nuclear weapons in the hands of different countries to the international community, and the Iranian Islamic Republic and its nuclear aspirations are undoubtedly a great threat to global security.

As the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism, Iran has been involved in providing support for the execution of terrorist attacks across the globe. A compelling example is Iran's role in the 1994 bombing of the Asociacion Mutual Israelita Argentina (AMIA), the Jewish community centre in Buenos Aires, which killed 85 people. Tehran provided operational support for the attack. In 2003, an Argentinean judge issued arrest warrants against four Iranian diplomats, including former Intelligence Minister Ali Fallahian, for their role in the bombing. This is only one example. Iran's direct support and involvement in terrorism includes suicide truck bombings in Beirut in 1983 and 1984, an attempted truck bombing in Thailand in 1994, the 1996 Khobar Tower bombings in Saudi Arabia and numerous other incidents ranging from Europe to Southeast Asia to West Asia. This support for terrorist activities illustrates Iran's readiness to utilise unconventional means to pursue its political and military objectives.

Iran has also sought to disrupt the West Asian peace process and has made efforts to spread its hostility towards Israel into the Muslim world. It has provided funds, training, and arms to Palestinian terrorist organisations, including the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Hamas and most notably, Hezbollah. These organisations work to achieve their shared goals with the Iranian regime, their basic objective being the destruction of Israel and creation of an Islamist state in its place. This militant and hostile worldview would be fostered and could be realized if Tehran acquires a nuclear arsenal.

In addition, Iran continues to arm militant organisations with small arms and advanced "force multiplier weapons systems." The Karine-A ship, intercepted by the Israeli Navy in the Red Sea in 2002 was smuggling more than 50 tonnes of weapons, valued at over $2 million, to Hezbollah operatives for distribution to militant Palestinian factions. The cache found on board included sophiticated weapons such as PG-7 Tandem and PG-7 Nader antitank rockets, and YM3 antitank and YM1 antipersonnel mines. According to Israeli intelligence, some of these arms still bore serial number markings revealing their production in Iran in 2001. Iran has shown no reluctance in providing sophisticated weapons to terrorist organisations and the danger that Tehran could share nuclear technology, radioactive materials, and atomic weapons with other state and non-state actors is a risk the international community cannot afford.

Iran should be prevented from acquiring nuclear weapons on grounds of its Revolutionary ideology, which, as defined by the worldview and doctrine of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, aims to "cleanse" Islamic society, first in Iran, and later in the wider Islamic world. The struggle does not end in the Islamic world; it further aims to eradicate the superpowers who are the cause of world corruption. Khomeini also sought to export the Islamic Revolution to the Muslim world and advocated the use of jihad and shahada (self-sacrifice) to achieve ideological aims. Khomeini's successor, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and President Ahmadinejad, support similar views, and have not hesitated to express them openly.

Iran's extreme worldview combined with its nuclear aspirations and support for militant organisations distinguishes the Islamic Republic as a major threat to global security. The international community must present a unified, multilateral initiative, including diplomatic incentives and the threat of economic sanctions and military action. Sensitive bargaining by the US, UK, China, France, Germany, and Russia with Iran over the next few weeks will be decisive for averting the looming crisis. Iran is clearly a threat to the international system. A concerted and united effort needs being made to deny it nuclear capabilities.