The united states must address the concerns of key regional actors as it works to contain irans nuclear program, contends shibley telhami. Iran and the west have, nevertheless, continued at odds over irans nuclear program. Constraining irans future nuclear capabilities brookings institution. Historic deal reached with iran to limit nuclear program. The iranian nuclear programme henry jackson society. Some of these weapons will eventually be, or have already been, placed on israels missilecarrying submarines, making them virtually impervious to preemptive military attack. This national intelligence estimate nie assesses the status of irans nuclear program, and the programs outlook over the next 10 years. News coverage has the potential to play a significant, constructive role in finding a lasting resolution to the dispute over irans nuclear program, but journalists and editors first need to. In the mid1980s, during its war with iraq, tehran decided to revive its nuclear program, but sanctions and, in particular, u. This is a brief history of iran s progress toward the ability to build a nuclear weapon. In this way, news coverage of irans nuclear program is reminiscent of news coverage of the runup to the 2003 u.
The 2007 nie on irans nuclear intentions and capabilities. This report looks at the background of irans nuclear policy. While this assistance ended with the 1979 iranian revolution, iran remained interested in nuclear technology and developed an extensive nuclear fuel cycle, including sophisticated enrichment capabilities. For more detailed information about irans nuclear program, see crs report rl34544, irans nuclear program. Status congressional research service summary irans nuclear program began during the 1950s. The birth of an atomic state currently unavailable. Iran has had a nuclear program for close to 50 years, beginning with a research reactor purchased from the united states in 1959. The pandemics implications for irans nuclear program. Well, iran officially doesnt, but theres a lot of evidence that theyve had a nuclear weapons program in the past.
Fsi cisac israels future and irans nuclear program. The international atomic energy agency has said so. Irans nuclear program dates back to the second half of the 1970s when mohammad reza shah pahlavi decided with very good reason, as it turned out that oil in the ground was better than dollars in the bank. The pandemics implications for irans nuclear program the. Irans construction of gas centrifuge uranium enrichment facilities is currently the main source of proliferation. We continue to assess with moderatetohigh confidence that iran does not currently have a nuclear weapon. While this assistance ended with the 1979 iranian revolution, iran remained interested in nuclear technology and developed an extensive nuclear fuel cycle, including sophisticated enrichment. The accord will end decades of economic sanctions against iran in exchange for restrictions on its nuclear program. The means by which iraq tried to obtain nuclear weapons were diverse. Since 2006, iran has distinguished the twentieth of farvardin as its national nuclear technology day, an opportunity to unveil and often exaggerate advancements in the countrys nuclear program while glorifying the regimes persistence in the face of western sanctions. Finally, the heavy water program also has raised questions about irans intentions. Iran has long maintained that its nuclear program is benign, legal, and.
Iranian leaders advanced irans nuclear weapons program in the 1990s and early 2000s along with its civil nuclear program, using the latter as a symbol of national pride. At the end of the meetings, negotiators announce that no further meetings are. David albright, an expert on irans nuclear program and president of the institute for science and international security, estimates iran is producing roughly 2. Jun, 2016 this report looks at the background of iran s nuclear policy. Oct 06, 2010 iran intensified its drive toward nuclear weapons in the 1980s during the iraniraq war, following reports of an iraqi clandestine nuclear program. Status and breakout timing 3 overview for much of the second half of 2010 and well into 2011, any discussion of the islamic republic of irans nuclear program was dominated by a series of events that suggested deliberate attempts at sabotage on the part of foreign powers. Irans natanz uranium enrichment plant is to have 20004000 operable ir1 centrifuges. Iran to produce nuclear weapons after the sunset provisions expire. But if iran violated the terms of the deal in support of the joint comprehensive plan of action to limit irans nuclear program, or the iran nuclear deal, democratic senator martin heinrich of new. The shahs plan to build 23 nuclear power reactors by the 1990s was regarded as grandiose, but not necessarily viewed as a back door to a nuclear weapons program, possibly because iran did not then seek the. Pdf we wrote this report in 2011 at a time when the issues surrounding the islamic republic of irans nuclear program appeared to have. Military organization and timeline of irans nuclear program. All excess centrifuges and cascade piping are to be removed for iaea monitored storage. Iran might develop a nuclear weapons program in response to a thensuspected iraqi nuclear weapons program, although iran was not one of several countries of near to medium term proliferation concern cited in the paper.
The 1979 islamic revolution halted all nuclear construction activities in iran. The 2007 nie concluded that iran had halted its nuclear weapons program in 2003. Tehrans compliance with international obligations congressional research service 2 possible military dimensions to irans nuclear programme. Irans atomic energy organization and its head ali akbar salehi face sanctions, but foreign companies working on tehrans civilian nuclear program are still exempt by deb riechmann january 26. He planned to establish a number of large powergenerating nuclear plants. Nearly 10 months later, key questions remain about the trump administrations efforts on iran and about the future of iran s nuclear program. We assess with moderate confidence tehran had not restarted its nuclear weapons program as of mid2007, but we do not know whether it currently intends to develop nuclear weapons. Irans rapid development of missile expertise has raised concerns in washington and among its allies about tehrans intentions.
Iran first told the iaea that it planned to export heavy water, then. Jul 08, 2019 if iran continues to expand its nuclear program but refuses to accede to the administrations demandsor even to accept negotiationsthe united states will either have to accept the growing. Iran has stockpiled 1,200 kilograms, or about 2,600 pounds, which is well beyond what the 2015 nuclear deal between tehran and world powers allowed, an official said. Status congressional research service rl34544 version 48 updated 2 take at least a decade for iran to do so. The iranian nuclear crisis has dominated world politics since the beginning of the century, with the country now facing increasing diplomatic isolation, talk of military strikes against its nuclear facilities and a disastrous middle east war. The nuclear program of iran has included several research sites, two uranium mines, a research reactor, and uranium processing facilities that include three known uranium enrichment plants. Mar 12, 2019 irans rapid development of missile expertise has raised concerns in washington and among its allies about tehrans intentions. The united states and iran have been at odds, with varying degrees of intensity, since the 1979 islamic revolution there. Pdf irans nuclear program and turkey wise men center for. As a signatory to the nuclear nonproliferation treaty, iran claims its nuclear program has always been purely for peaceful, energy and medical purposes. Iran may develop a nuclear weapons program in response to a thensuspected iraqi nuclear weapons program, although iran was not one of several countries of near to medium term proliferation concern to which the paper referred. Nuclear program of iran and concerns of usa submitted to.
Pdf irans nuclear program is a matter of national pride and international prestige, says pupak mohebali. Online available at find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate. They are or soon will be israels invulnerable nuclear. But if iran violated the terms of the deal in support of the joint comprehensive plan of action to limit irans nuclear program, or the iran nuclear deal, democratic senator martin heinrich of new mexico spoke on the senate floor in 2015, saying. Challenges and policy options colorado technical university by nadav morag, ph. The 2007 national intelligence estimate on irans nuclear intentions and capabilities 1 irans nuclear program in 2000 iran ratified the nuclear nonproliferation treaty npt in 1968, and negotiated a safeguards agreement with the international atomic energy agency iaea in 1974. Timeline of nuclear diplomacy with iran arms control. Iranian nuclear weapons program back by several years.
Iran intensified its drive toward nuclear weapons in the 1980s during the iraniraq war, following reports of an iraqi clandestine nuclear program. Tehran is determined to develop and acquire ever more advanced and accurate ballistic missiles but its. Tehrans compliance with international obligations congressional research service 4. Iran s interest in nuclear technology dates to the 1950s, when the shah of iran received technical assistance under the u.
In may 2018, president trump withdrew the united states from the jcpoa and reimposed sanctions against irana step that, he argued, would compel iran to accept a new deal. The dispute has intensified since november 2011, with new findings by international inspectors, tougher sanctions by the united states and europe against irans oil exports, threats by iran to shut the strait of hormuz, and threats from israel signaling. This time frame is more appropriate for estimating capabilities than intentions and foreign reactions, which are more difficult to estimate over a decade. Status and breakout timing 8 will need to produce heu by as much as twothirds if it enriches its stockpile of 3. In 1970, iran ratified the nonproliferation treaty npt, making its nuclear program subject to the iaea s verification. If iran decides to leave the jcpoa and rebuild its nuclear program. It is the third of a three part series on iranian nuclear programs and longrange missiles.
It covers the current status of iran s nuclear facilities, and current controversy surrounding them, as well as the effects of international sanctions on iran, recent sabotages on the iran enrichment program, an estimated timeline of iran s nuclear weapon capabilities, and whether or not iran even has a nuclear weapons program. Iran has agreed to steps with the iaea to address the possible military. Irans interest in nuclear technology dates to the 1950s, when the shah of iran received technical assistance under the u. While this assistance ended with the 1979 iranian revolution, iran remained interested in nuclear technology and developed an extensive nuclear fuel cycle. The first covered the consequences of iranian use of nuclear weapons, and of a possible nuclear exchange between iran and israel or the gulf states. Israel has had an arsenal of nuclear weapons since the late 1960s, and its current inventory is estimated at between 100 and 200 warheads. Nuclear iran the washington institute for near east policy. The israeli and arab dimensions of irans nuclear program. Howard lafranchi, irans nuclear program takes another step up escalation ladder. The emphasis is on achievements, rather than motives. The iranian nuclear program fact sheet advanced conventional weapons. In 1976, france sold iraq a 40 megawatt test reactor called the tammuz1 reactor, or osirak.
This was followed in 1995 by a comprehensive ban on all trade and investment with iran. Pdf we wrote this report in 2011 at a time when the issues surrounding the islamic republic of irans nuclear program appeared to have reached a. This report provides a brief overview of irans nuclear program and describes the legal basis for the actions taken by the iaea board and the security council. Apr 10, 2012 the united states must address the concerns of key regional actors as it works to contain irans nuclear program, contends shibley telhami. Telhami provides ten key points for the next president. Pdf irans nuclear program and turkey wise men center. Tehran wanted to guard against a future surprise analogous to iraqs repeated use of chemical weapons. Iran begins construction of natanz enrichment facility, arak heavy water plant, and gachin mine and ore processing mill. The nuclear programme and facilities iran must provide an expanded declaration on all aspects of its past and current nuclear programme. The reactor was designed to run on highly enriched, weaponsgrade uranium fuel, but this did not ring any alarm bells in paris since the important ally had ratified the non. It covers the current status of irans nuclear facilities, and current controversy surrounding them, as well as the effects of international sanctions on iran, recent sabotages on the iran enrichment program, an estimated timeline of irans nuclear weapon capabilities, and whether or not iran even has a nuclear weapons program. Iran has agreed to steps with the iaea to address the possible military dimensions of irans past program or pmd. The achievements presented here have been cataloged primarily by the international atomic energy agency iaea. Pdf irans nuclear program satenik grigoryan academia.
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