Peace Without Poison

Iran began interfering with the people’s reproductive rights in 1982, undoubtedly due to heavypressure from the UN and the international community in light of its nuclear program. A nuclearpower poses a far greater threat to world peace than non-nuclear nations and that is why it isespecially important that nuclear nations practice population control.From 1982 until 2014, Iran used fluoridated water to subvert fertility and lowered the totalfertility rate from 6.5 children per woman prior to 1982 to replacement level fertility in 2000 anda lowest low fertility of 1.3 children per woman by 2011. The total fertility rate has risen againand is currently at 1.9 children per woman.As Supreme Leader of Iran from 1979 to 1989, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini must haveapproved the use of covert methods of sterilization. As Supreme Leader he was the highestrankingpolitical and religious authority of Iran. Furthermore, he expanded the notion of velayatefaqih (the “guardianship of clerical authority”) to include theocratic political rule by Islamic358 | P a g e