Iran nuclear programme dates back to the time of mohammad reza shah pahlavi, the countrys last monarch. Irans interest in nuclear technology dates to the 1950s, when the shah of iran received technical assistance under the u. As iran presses on in its efforts to become a nuclear power, the regime in tehran also employs an aggressive foreign policy that relies heavily on the deployment of clandestine assets abroad to collect intelligence and support. What the smuggled archive tells us about irans nuclear. The 2007 nie on irans nuclear intentions and capabilities. The following is the text of the july 14, 2015 joint comprehensive plan of action between the islamic republic of iran and china, france, germany, the russian federation, the u. The accord will end decades of economic sanctions against iran in exchange for restrictions on its nuclear program. Those documents led directly to another cia estimate in 2005 asserting the existence of an iranian nuclear weapons program, which in turn paved the way for all the subsequent estimates all of. Stuxnet is a malicious computer worm, first uncovered in 2010, thought to have been in development since at least 2005.
The iran nuclear archive belfer center for science and. Although neither country has openly admitted responsibility, the worm is widely understood to be a cyberweapon built. Furthermore, iran reportedly reached an agreement with north korea. A nucleararmed iran may view israel as its primary regional competitor and could demon. The iranian nuclear program fact sheet advanced conventional weapons.
Introduction irans leaders have worked to pursue nuclear energy technology since the 1950s, spurred by the launch of u. While this assistance ended with the 1979 iranian revolution, iran remained interested in nuclear technology and developed an extensive nuclear fuel cycle, including sophisticated enrichment capabilities. Under growing scrutiny and international pressure, in 200304 iran agreed to terminate its nuclear weapons program, insisting only that it maintain its nuclear centrifuges for nuclear energy. The nuclear programme and facilities iran must provide an expanded declaration on all aspects of its past and current nuclear programme. The 2007 national intelligence estimate on irans nuclear intentions and capabilities 1 irans nuclear program in 2000 iran ratified the nuclear nonproliferation treaty npt in 1968, and negotiated a safeguards agreement with the international atomic energy agency iaea in 1974. The records further buttress the view long held by u. Whilst iran became a signatory of the nuclear nonproliferation treaty npt of the international atomic energy agency iaea, under the shahs rule, the first aspirations of the country for building nuclear weapons have also been expressed by his government. Many would argue that the question of the authenticity of the laptop documents is no longer significant in judging irans nuclear intentions in light of the u.
Mossad agents snuck nuclear files out of iran with. Military organization and timeline of irans nuclear program. The iaea report on irans nuclear programme topped the agenda of a closeddoor meeting of the united nations security council, the first time the issue has been formally addressed by the 15member body. In manufactured crisis, the untold story of the iran nuclear scare just world books, awardwinning investigative journalist gareth porter. It covers the current status of irans nuclear facilities, and current controversy surrounding them, as well as the effects of international sanctions on iran, recent sabotages on the iran enrichment program, an estimated timeline of irans nuclear weapon capabilities, and whether or not iran even has a nuclear weapons program. Iran has agreed to steps with the iaea to address the possible military. Timeline on irans nuclear program the new york times. Nuclear physicists, military officials, nonproliferation experts, and more than 100 countries across the globe have all voiced their support for the iran nuclear deal because it is the best solution available to prevent iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon without taking. The iranian nuclear programme henry jackson society. Iran intensified its drive toward nuclear weapons in the 1980s during the iraniraq war, following reports of an iraqi clandestine nuclear program. The new information derived from the iranian nuclear archive adds more urgency to efforts to.
The history of stuxnet key takeaways for cyber decision makers 3 the tehran research reactor trr and consumed highly enriched uranium as a fuel source. A warehouse in shorabad, south tehran, where mossad agents discovered and extracted tens of thousands of secret files pertaining to irans nuclear weapons program prime ministers office. Confrontation between the united states and iran global. Iran should be allowed a nuclear weapon since israel has one. The core of the document explains the terms used by the international atomic energy. The historic deal that will prevent iran from acquiring a. In 1970, iran ratified the nonproliferation treaty npt, making its nuclear program subject to the iaeas verification irans nuclear program was launched in the 1950s with the help of the united states. At this time, iran also stepped up the pace of its weapons program by secretly enlarging the uranium enrichment plant at the natanz site. While irans leaders long insisted the country was not building nuclear weapons, its. Estimates of israels stockpile range between 80 and 400 nuclear warheads, and the country is believed to possess the ability to deliver them in several methods, including by aircraft.
This was followed in 1995 by a comprehensive ban on all trade and investment with iran. Full text of the iran nuclear deal historic deal reached with iran to limit nuclear program. The state of israel is widely believed to possess nuclear weapons. In his book state of war, author and intelligence correspondent for the new york times james risen relates that the cia chose a defected russian nuclear scientist to provide deliberately flawed nuclear warhead blueprints to iranian officials in february 2000. I n all the discussion of irans nuclear program, the consequent international economic blockade directed by the united states, and the ongoing negotiations to resolve the issue, washingtons official history of the program has rarely been challenged. For all the attention that has been given to iran and its nuclear program, the last real book to look focus on the history of the nuclear program instead of analyzing the nuclear program as part of a larger analysis on iran and its relationship with the u. Collection of documents preface by the foreign secretary the documents in this collection record the international effort over the past two years to establish with confidence whether irans nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes. The only sustainable solution for assuring that irans nuclear program remains. In may 2006 chinese foreign ministry spokesperson liu jianchao stated as a signatory to the nonproliferation treaty, iran enjoys the right to peaceful use of nuclear power, but it should also fulfil its corresponding responsibility and commitment. Iranian nuclear weapons program back by several years.
The international atomic energy agency iaea reports in this collection. According to cia documents, the search for a suitable russian emigre with an engineering background in nuclear physics and. Full text of the iran nuclear deal washington post. Iran has stockpiled 1,200 kilograms, or about 2,600 pounds, which is well beyond what the 2015 nuclear deal between tehran and world powers allowed, an official said. The emergence of a nucleararmed iran in the future could increase the prospects for direct armed conflict between the two nations. Major developments in irans nuclear program 20062008. Iranian nuclear negotiations, bulletin of the atomic. Israel might choose to preemptively strike iranian nuclear facilities in an effort to thwart or delay such a development. This report looks at the background of irans nuclear policy. Manufactured crisis reveals, on the basis of interviews with iranian and former iaea officials, how the iaea has been manipulated to put out reports suggesting that iran had such a covert weapons program based overwhelmingly on documents that originated in israel. All excess centrifuges and cascade piping are to be removed for iaea monitored storage. Israel claims proof of secret iran plans for nuclear. Israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu said his country has half a ton of iranian documents that prove tehran had a secret program to build. Timeline of nuclear diplomacy with iran arms control.
The chinese foreign ministry supports the peaceful resolution of the iran nuclear issue through diplomacy and negotiations. As an apparent act of defiance against western countries reluctance to support it against us sanctions, iran has begun to enrich uranium beyond the level permitted by the nuclear deal. But dermer said the documents do show that iran has had an active program of concealing their nuclear weapons program and that while governed by the nuclear deal, tehran purposefully hid. In 1990, china signed a 10year nuclear cooperation agreement that allowed iranian nuclear engineers to obtain training in china. This is a brief history of irans progress toward the.
Region, the triangle papers 62, the trilateral commission, washington, paris, tokyo, 2008, p. Irans natanz uranium enrichment plant is to have 20004000 operable ir1 centrifuges. Iran nuclear programme, a brief history springerlink. Iaea chief calls for timeout on iran nuclear issue. Irans breakout time for building a weapon is now one year instead of three months. The nuclear program of iran has included several research sites, two uranium mines, a research reactor, and uranium processing facilities that include three known uranium enrichment plants. National intelligence estimate nie of november 2007, which concluded that iran had conducted a covert nuclearweapons program in 200203, but had halted it in late 2003. At the end of the meetings, negotiators announce that no further meetings are. World attention on iran centers on the threats to international security posed by the countrys nuclear program. This fact, together with the information revealed by the smuggling out by the israelis of irans nuclear weapons program archive, belies tehrans oftexpressed claim that its nuclear program was always. Iranian leaders advanced irans nuclear weapons program in the 1990s and early 2000s along with its civil nuclear program, using the latter as a symbol of national pride. The united states had long suspected iran of a covert nuclear program, and when president george w. Although iran claims that its nuclear program is exclusively for peaceful.
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