Iran: U.S. Concerns and Policy Responses
Abstract
The issue of Iran and its nuclear program has emerged as a top priority for the Obama Administration. The sense of impending crisis is generated by growing suspicions in the international community that Iran s nuclear program is not for purely peaceful purposes, and the determination of the government of Israel, in particular, that it might take unilateral military action against Iran s nuclear facilities if its progress is not soon halted. The United States also sees a threat to U.S. interests posed by Iran s support for militant groups in the Middle East and in Iraq and Afghanistan. U.S. officials accuse Iran of helping Syria s leadership try to defeat a growing popular opposition movement and of taking advantage of Shiite majority unrest against the Sunni-led, pro-U.S. government of Bahrain. Tensions have been particularly elevated since Iran s late-December 2011 threat to try to choke off much of the world s oil supplies by attempting to close the Strait of Hormuz a reaction to the imposition of significant sanctions against Iran s vital exports of oil.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 23, 2012
- Accession Number
- ADA584849
Entities
People
- Kenneth Katzman
Organizations
- Library of Congress