Meeting the Challenge: U.S. Policy Toward Nuclear Development.

AuthorCarew, Paul
PositionSenators Daniel Coats and Charles Robb - Report

MEETING THE CHALLENGE: U.S. Policy Toward Iranian Nuclear Development

http://www.bipartisanpolicy.org/ht/a/GetDocumentAction/i/8448

By Senators Daniel Coats and Charles Robb, co-chairs

Reviewed by Dr. Paul Carew

The Bipartisan Policy Center was established in 2007 by former Senate Majority Leaders Howard Baker, Tom Daschle, Bob Dole, and George Mitchell to provide a forum where difficult policy challenges could be addressed and solutions developed and embraced by both political parties. The BPC is presently focusing on five major areas of interest: national security, health care, energy, agriculture, and transportation.

The subject of this review is Meeting the Challenge: U.S. Policy Toward Iranian Nuclear Development, a study in the national security category, co-chaired by former senators Daniel Coats and Charles Robb, with a panel that includes Dennis Ross, Steve Rademaker, three retired four-star generals and admirals, and a coterie of other experts. The study, a holistic historical, cultural, geographical, geological, and political examination of Iran's development, especially since the 1979 revolution, focuses on what the panel says is the most pressing national security issue the incoming administration will face: the growing prospect of a nuclear-weapons capable Iran. The panel addresses four issues that they say frame the bases for a reasonable, bipartisan, and comprehensive Iranian policy.

First, an Iran with nuclear weapons is strategically untenable. It would threaten U.S. national security, regional peace and stability, energy security, the efficacy of multilateralism, and the Non-Proliferation Treaty. The potential capability to assemble a nuclear weapon, even before an operational weapon is produced, would greatly increase Iran's influence in Iraq and the region.

Second, the only acceptable end state is the termination of enrichment activities by Iran. The panel does not foresee any combination of international inspections or co-ownership of enrichment facilities that would preclude Iran from producing weapons-grade fissile material.

Third, a diplomatic solution to the issue at hand is desirable, but success can be assured only from a position of strength and occur within a predetermined, short-term, specified timeframe. The panel provides a detailed range of proposed diplomatic strategies including better coordination with our allies and the imposition of more rigorous sanctions and economic coercion. Unless our allies sever...

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