Iran
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The U.S. and Israel on Iran
In his latest analysis, Jerome Grossman, Chairman Emeritus of Council for a Livable World, questions the similarities between U.S. and Israeli policy on Iran in light of the Bush administration's plans to establish an American diplomatic presence in Iran. -
Congressional Alert H.Con.Res. 362
Vice Admiral Jack Shanahan, Dr. Lawrence Korb, and Lt. General Robert G. Gard, Jr. urge Congress to abandon H. Con. Res. 362, a poorly conceived, poorly timed, and potentially dangerous concurrent resolution in the House of Representatives. -
In a Nutshell: McCain vs. Obama on National Security
Executive Director John Isaacs takes a look at the positions of McCain and Obama on Iraq, Iran, nuclear weapons, missile defense, and much more.
For the past several years, Iran has been under intense scrutiny from the international community over its nuclear program. While it is unclear what exactly Iran's intentions are, failure to declare all nuclear facilities and materials in a timely fashion have led to increased concerns that Iran intends to secretly develop nuclear weapons.
History
As part of the US Atoms for Peace program, the US and Iran signed a civil nuclear cooperation agreement in 1957, which provided US technical assistance and the lease of several kilograms of enriched uranium. By the mid-1960s, Iran had begun conducting nuclear research and development under the auspices of the US. Following the Iranian Revolution and the toppling of the Shah's government, Iran suspended its civilian nuclear energy program. During the Iran-Iraq war, Iraq bombed the Bushehr nuclear reactor site in Iran six times (in March 1984, February 1985, March 1985, July 1986, and twice in November 1987), destroying the entire core area of both reactors. Iran effectively did not restart its civilian nuclear power program until 1995 when it signed a contract with the Russian Ministry of Atomic Energy to build lightweight water reactors at Bushehr, under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards.
Nuclear Facilities
In February 2003, Iran announced that it had begun mining uranium deposits at Saghand near the central Iranian city of Yazd. Iran prepares Yellow Cake at a site known as Ardekan Nuclear Fuel Unit, in Ardekan near Yazd. It also has a Uranium Conversion Facility (UCF) in Isfahan. Iran's Uranium Enrichment Facility at Natanz and its heavy water reactor near Arak were concealed from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) until 2002.
Nuclear Suspicions and Failed Negotiations
Iran claims that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes and continues to cite its inalienable right to pursue a civilian nuclear energy program under Article IV of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Iran's stated plans to master the nuclear fuel cycle, its failure to fully declare its nuclear activities to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the discovery by IAEA inspectors of traces of enriched uranium on centrifuges imported from Pakistan have all contributed to suspicions by the IAEA and Western countries of Iran's intentions. Western countries, led by the US, claim Iran is misusing Article IV of the NPT to obtain a nuclear weapons capability.
Negotiations since 2003, primarily led by Britain, France and Germany, over Iran's nuclear program have been unsuccessful, even though Iran has agreed to suspend uranium enrichment at various times during the negotiations. In May 2003, Iran sent a letter to the United States through Swiss diplomatic intermediaries offering to engage in a broad dialogue with the US, including full cooperation on its nuclear program, acceptance of Israel and the termination of Iranian support for Hizbollah and Palestinian militant groups. However, the US refused to respond to the offer.
Also contributing to Iran's unwillingness to completely forego mastering the nuclear fuel cycle is a perceived security threat posed by the possibility of a US invasion. President Bush has identified Iran as part of an "axis of evil." In April 2006, President Bush said that "all options are on the table" to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, which would include the possibility of a military strike. Meanwhile, the US has led the charge against Iran at the United Nations Security Council, pressing for sanctions if Iran refuses to comply with Security Council Resolutions and the IAEA.
Council for a Livable World believes that Iran does not currently pose an imminent threat to the United States, and is unlikely to do so for years and perhaps more than a decade. Thus, there is ample time for the US, Iran, the IAEA and other interested parties to resolve the dispute through diplomacy. Military force should not be considered at this time, and should not be exercised at some later point unless it meets basic requirements such as the support of Congress and the United Nations.
What You Can Do
Writing, calling, and lobbying your Congressional representatives and neighbors are the most important steps you can take to prevent war with Iran. When you write your representative or local newspaper editor you should touch on the following points.
Dialogue and diplomacy are the best ways to protect America
If we have learned nothing else from Iraq, it is that there are limitations to the use of military force.
There are no good military options for solving our disagreements with Iran. Military action would only result in disastrous costs and unintended consequences.
Take the nuclear weapons option off the table. It only inflames anti-American extremism, while strengthening the hand of hardliners in Iran. It also costs us the trust of vital friends and allies.
