Intractable Dilemma: Suspending the Objectionable Elements of Iran's Nuclear Program
Abstract
Since 2005, the international community has sought to compel Iran to suspend the objectionable elements of its nuclear program, namely, its nuclear enrichment program, its heavy-water reactor program, and its ballistic missile program. Nonetheless, Iran continues to offer less than credible explanations for maintaining its nuclear program. Needless to say, all past efforts to convince Iran to be more transparent about its nuclear activities have been unsuccessful. After all these years, it remains a seemingly intractable dilemma. Because of the grave threat that a nuclear-armed or nuclear-capable Iran would pose to international peace and security, the international community must employ all of its instruments of foreign policy to counter this threat, including engagement, sanctions, covert actions, and the threat of and/or use of military force. The author recommends that the international community continue to flexibly employ three out of the four instruments of foreign policy mentioned above to convince Iran to suspend the objectionable elements of its nuclear program. The three recommended instruments of foreign policy are engagement, sanctions, and covert actions. The fourth instrument of foreign policy, the use of military force, should only be used as a last resort because it cannot lead to a long-term solution to this crisis; it would only delay Iran's quest to develop a nuclear weapon. Rather, skillful use of the three recommended instruments of foreign policy in a carrot-and-stick approach would ideally result in another fuel swap proposal similar to the one agreed upon at Geneva in October 2009. Like the original proposal, it must not allow any quantity of low-enriched uranium in Iran that could be enriched to weapons-grade. If such a proposal could be agreed upon by all parties, it could be a first step toward an ultimate resolution to this dilemma.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 22, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA559977
Entities
People
- Keith R. Harris
Organizations
- United States Army War College