Is Iran emerging as a global power?

It ranks second in global natural gas reserves and has substantial oil reserves with plenty of growth potential in both energy sectors. This guarantees that the Islamic Republic will play a key long-term role in the world's increasingly important energy equation.

The United States has also been engaged in talks with Tehran over how to stabilise Iraq - an acknowledgment that Iran could hold the key to regional security. What does Iran's growing influence mean for its neighbours? Send your opinion to Aljazeera.net.

My opinion is, yes Iran will be a major world’s power, with its Islamic root. That’s why United States (especially George Bush) uses every effort and power at their disposal to restrain Iran from being a nuclear power with Iran’s nuclear program. For George Bush, only America and Israel will have the right to own nuclear weapons. Such an arrogant head!

On June 21, 2008 the Iranian envoy to the IAEA, Ali Asghar Soltanieh as reported by Voice of America (http://voanews.com) says, “Iran's envoy to the United Nations nuclear agency says Iran is continuing with its nuclear program despite a multination offer of an incentives package if Tehran stops atomic activity." He says “the Islamic Republic will continue its nuclear enrichment program, reiterating the country's claim that it is for peaceful purposes.”