Queen Noor asks for nuclear free world as Iran fires saber-rattling missiles

Jordan’s Queen Noor, eloquent crusader for the elimination of all nuclear weapons by 2030, and champion of Global Zero, witnessed a historic step toward her goal at the United Nations on Friday.

According to an interview with the Huffington Post these were her observations:

“It was my privilege to witness the United Nations Security Council Summit yesterday unanimously adopt a resolution calling for the elimination of all nuclear weapons,” said Queen Noor. “It was the first Security Council Summit ever dedicated to nuclear proliferation and disarmament and the first chaired by a U.S. President.”

Queen Noor, widow of late King Hussein, is an American, with a degree from Princeton University. In addition to her work with Global Zero, Queen Noor also gives 70-100 speeches on behalf of humanitarian efforts every year.

"I personally believe that the two most urgent issues facing us today are climate change and nuclear proliferation," Queen Noor told the Huffington Post. "I have children and grandchildren and see -- as do these former leaders, defense ministers, security leaders and military commanders from around the world (Global Zero members)-- that we are reaching a nuclear tipping point. And if we don't pull back now ... we may reach the point of no return."

The world has changed since the Cold War and many global leaders have increasingly begun to realize that any stability represented by the possession of nuclear weapons in the past are currently outweighed by the danger of nuclear terrorism and proliferation. The only sure way to avoid that threat is to eliminate all nuclear weapons. The four stage goal outlined by the mission of Global Zero, would see that accomplished by 2030.

However, in simultaneous events that played out last week at the United Nations and the G20 summit, tensions between Iran and the international community were brought into world focus as Iran’s secret underground nuclear plant was disclosed and condemned.

Also on Friday, Iran accused the United States of using “forged documents” and deception to build its covert case on the existence of the undeclared uranium enrichment facility that will house 3000 centrifuges. But Iranian nuclear chief reluctantly agreed to allow inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency, without specifying a date.

Over the weekend, Iran, in a chest-pounding display of defiance, fired off a series of short and medium range “test” missile launches.

According to Al Jazeera, the "optimized Shahab-3" missile that was tested early Monday has a range of 1,300 to 2,000 kilometers (807 to 1,242 miles). That range would reach Israel, US military bases in the Middle East, and parts of Europe.

Experts have said that Iran would not reach full nuclear capability for another 1-3 years. But they are wasting no time in showing the world that they will not hesitate to defend themselves. Iranian Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi specifically warned Israel against carrying out threats to attack Iran's nuclear enrichment site.

During a meeting in Sweden on Monday, September 28, 2009, European Union foreign policy Chief Javier SolanaJavier Solana said the Iranian missile tests were a source of concern and asked that Iran settle its issues surrounding the newly revealed enrichment facility.

Talks are scheduled for October 1st, which will give Iran the opportunity to lay everything on the table to prove the “peaceful” intent of the underground plant.

Meanwhile, Queen Noor (means “light” in Arabic) and the goals of Global Zero have not changed and with the help of the recent actions by the United Nations to adopt a resolution calling for the elimination of all nuclear weapons--perhaps a nuclear free world might be achiveable in time.

But the fear is, according to former intelligence experts, Israel is so deeply hated by Iran, that testing of missiles that are capable of hitting Israel may spark defensive actions to be carried out against Iran by Israel—in an attempt to take out the newly discovered enrichment plant before nuclear weapons can be built.

The talks in Geneva on October 1st, can’t come soon enough and will be critical to diffusing Iran’s dangerous missile saber-rattling--before Israel takes matters into their own hands.

***Copyright DelilahStarling 2009