The nuclear program of Iran: where to from here?

This paper by Group Captain Stephen Meredith analyses Iran's nuclear program. It contends that while the Iranian regime has the ability to develop a nuclear weapons capability, the international community's strategy to contain its nuclear program is not working and is unlikely to produce a stable region. It argues that the current containment strategy fails to address the fundamental motivations for Iranian development of a nuclear program, including Iranian perceptions of external threats to Iran's sovereignty and regime survival.

The paper concludes that the international community's disparate, uncoordinated and punitive approach has not only undermined efforts to contain the Iran nuclear program but has increased regional tensions and arguably hardened Iranian resolve to continue with the program.

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