Britain challenging Iran’s right to civilian nuclear energy

Just one day before Iran and P5+1 start new round of talks in the Kazakh city of Almaty, British Prime Minister David Cameron published an article in The Daily Telegraph, noting that no way he would cut the country’s nuclear budget.

However, his statement was immediately met with a response from Liberal Democrat politicians, who believe increasing Britain’s nuclear budget is not the right thing to do in the current poor economic condition and international situation while the country faces no serious threats. But why the UK’s nuclear defence program has sparked so much debate?

The so-called nuclear deterrent program by the British government, consists of four Vanguard-class submarines, each of which armed with up to 16 Ballistic Trident II missiles and 40 nuclear warheads. At least one of these submarines patrol on the West coast of Scotland at regular times of the day.

Cameron is now seeking to replace Trident II missiles with a more advanced nuclear system which costs the British government £20 billion.

“I am determined that we will maintain and renew it for generations to come,” said Cameron , despite the Lib Dems’ opposition to the program.

This comes as Britain along with five other countries are trying to deny Iran the right to a peaceful nuclear program through increasing pressure on the Islamic Republic by means of sanctions and negotiations.

Iran, however, has repeatedly announced that it is not in persuit of nuclear weapons and the country’s nuclear activities have been under The International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) 24-hour inspection.

The British officials claim that their nuclear program is defensive, but what guarantee is there that these ships, each carrying 40 nuclear warheads, do not destroy the world solely for the UK interests when it is necessary. Didn’t the US do the same in the crunch time of the World War II?

The talks are underway between the two sides in the Kazakh city of Almaty while the four British submarines armed with nuclear warheads are ready to launch a nuclear attack.