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Analysis: Iran Vexes U.S. Policymakers

Council on Foreign Relations

Updated April 5, 2006
Prepared by: Lionel Beehner

Iran says it is "ready for negotiations" on the issue of large-scale uranium enrichment but will not bend on what it views as its sovereign right to research and engage in small-scale programs for civilian-use purposes (AP). Some experts see this stance in the face of possible UN sanctions as a strategic gambit to drive a wedge between Security Council members already divided on how to prevent Iran from pursuing nuclear weapons. China and Russia, both of which hold strong economic ties with Tehran, refuse to entertain the notion of slapping Iran with multilateral sanctions. Even Mohamed ElBaradei, director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, says sanctions at this time are a "bad idea" because Iran does not pose an “imminent threat” (Gulf Times).

The United States, France, and Great Britain see things differently, pointing to two decades of Iranian subterfuge aimed at hiding a uranium-enrichment program and two years of largely fruitless negotiations. In their view, last week's UN Security Council statement calling for Iran to suspend enrichment activities presages tougher steps aimed at stopping Iran’s program. Tehran’s nuclear posturing—coupled with comments made by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad calling for Israel’s extermination—makes Iran a special case that requires a tough, multilateral response, say U.S. officials. President Bush has stated he is keeping all options on the table.

Policy analysts in the United States have differing opinions about the best course to follow. Views by some U.S. conservatives that Iran's nuclear program would not be an issue were the country to democratize are "dangerous," argues CFR Senior Fellow Ray Takeyh in the National Interest. He writes that this perpective only validates claims by the Iranian president that it is regime change, not nuclear nonproliferation, which most concerns Washington.

Read the rest of this article on the cfr.org website.

Copyright 2006 by the Council on Foreign Relations. This material is republished on GlobalSecurity.org with specific permission from the cfr.org. Reprint and republication queries for this article should be directed to cfr.org.