Iran's Nuclear Timeline and the West's Options

A new report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) suggests that the West may be running out of time to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. According to the IAEA, Iran has now produced enough low-enriched uranium for a single nuclear weapon. Although Iran would have to further purify its nuclear material and fit it into a warhead to make a viable weapon, this latest revelation is yet more evidence of Iran's aggressive intentions and raises important questions about what we know--and what we do not know--about its nuclear capabilities. What is Iran's nuclear timeline? Is a nuclear Iran now a fait accompli, or can the West still prevent Iran from producing the world’s most dangerous weapons? Sanctions have thus far proven ineffective, but will Iran's fiscal troubles create enough leverage for renewed economic measures to work? Does the West have the political will to redouble its efforts? Will China and Russia join in?

Discussing these and other questions will be AEI senior fellow and former U.S. permanent representative to the United Nations John R. Bolton and Gary Milhollin, director of the Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control. Danielle Pletka, vice president of foreign and defense policy studies at AEI, will moderate.

About the Author

 

Danielle
Pletka
  • Danielle Pletka is the vice president for foreign and defense policy studies at AEI. Before joining AEI, she served for ten years as a senior professional staff member for the Near East and South Asia on the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. She writes frequently on national security matters with a focus on domestic politics in the Middle East and South Asia regions, U.S. national security, terrorism and weapons proliferation.
  • Phone: 202-862-5943
    Email: dpletka@aei.org
  • Assistant Info

    Name: Lazar Berman
    Phone: 202-862-5872
    Email: lazar.berman@aei.org

 

John R.
Bolton
  • John R. Bolton, a diplomat and a lawyer, has spent many years in public service. From August 2005 to December 2006, he served as the U.S. permanent representative to the United Nations. From 2001 to 2005, he was under secretary of state for arms control and international security. At AEI, Ambassador Bolton's area of research is U.S. foreign and national security policy.

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  • Phone: 202-862-5892
    Email: christine.samuelian@aei.org
  • Assistant Info

    Name: Christine Samuelian
    Phone: 202-862-5892
    Email: christine.samuelian@aei.org
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