KARACHI, Feb 25: Iran should engage itself in diplomatic mobility and manoeuvrability with other powerful states on nuclear issue to lessen its isolation, said Mr Mansoor Alam, a former Pakistani ambassador.

“Diplomatic means by Iran should best be exhausted in order to avert any potential crisis. It requires greater utilization of diplomatic and political means on the part of Iran,” he said while speaking at a seminar on Iran and the Nuclear Issue here on Saturday. It was organized by the Department of International Relations, University of Karachi, under its programme on Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution.

Mr Alam was of the view that nuclear weapons were being sought for security and deterrence. Iran is pursuing its nuclear programme and has started enrichment of uranium to develop retaliatory power to counter any possible aggression, according to him.

Iran, during the cold war era, was a strong US ally, but the Islamic revolution transformed it into an anti-US state. The country is pursuing the anti-US policy for the past 25 years. Iran’s nuclear activities came under criticism when the IAEA confirmed that it indulged in nuclear enrichment despite having signed the NPT.

Mr Alam observed that Iran was under threat of being invaded by the US, and it was very much possible that the US might target it aerially.

The Iranian military strength is no match for superior American technology. It is a classical dilemma in the international politics that the powerful states consider themselves free to bring any territory in the world under their control. At this moment, Iran is not a fully developed nuclear power, but it may take at least three years to achieve full nuclear capability.

Prof Moonis Ahmar, Director of the Programme on Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution, told the seminar that in order to see Iran a nuclear-free state, denuclearization at vertical level by the great powers was vital.

The US and its western allies should engage Iran in diplomatic means to resolve the issue as confrontation would only plunge West Asia and the Middle East into a deeper crisis, he added.