WITH the recent release of the International Atomic Energy Agency report on Iran's suspected nuclear weapons programme, temperatures in the Middle East and beyond are heating up once again. The IAEA says there is “credible” evidence Iran is working towards the bomb. But some observers point out that the document contains regurgitated information, only in greater detail. International reactions have varied greatly. The US and its European allies have called for more sanctions against Iran while Russia and China have expressed scepticism. In fact, the Russian foreign ministry has called the report “biased” and compared it to the ill-founded American claim in the run-up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq that Saddam Hussein was developing weapons of mass destruction. While Israel has hinted at pre-emptive strikes to disable the Gulf country's nuclear facilities, Iran has hardened its tone, saying any military action would be met “with full force”.

There is a need for common sense to prevail all around if further hostility is to be avoided. The UN secretary general has opposed military action and emphasised a diplomatic solution to the stand-off. In this respect, the sanest voices seem to be coming from Moscow and Beijing. While it is true that Russia and China — both veto-wielding members of the Security Council — have extensive economic ties with Iran, there can be no disagreeing with their position that dialogue and engagement with Iran is the only solution. The Iranian government, on its part, must tone down its rhetoric and eschew the path of confrontation. Meanwhile, one report must not be made the basis for further squeezing Iran with sanctions or military action. The West must realise that several years of sanctions have accomplished little, and that military aggression against Iran will have devastating consequences for regional — if not global — peace and economic stability.