U.S. Policy and the Iranian Nuclear Question

February 4, 2004

For the complete version of Ray Takeyh's "U.S. Policy and the Iranian Nuclear Question," click here.

While Washington is focused on exaggerations about Iraqi capabilities to produce nuclear, biological and chemical weapons in the run-up to war, a more pressing problem confronts the United States and the international community in neighboring Iran. In the coming months, the United States will face critical decisions about confronting Tehran’s bid to become a nuclear power.

Over the past year, evidence has emerged that the Islamic Republic of Iran has developed an elaborate nuclear infrastructure. Beyond the incongruity of an oil-rich state pursuing a nuclear program for power, the nature of Iran's facilities suggests that its civilian program was intended to camouflage acquisition of nuclear military capability. Moreover, the sophisticated nature of these installations reveals that Iran may be approaching a point where it will no longer require external assistance to complete its program. More...