 Iran
Introduction: In the recent past, Iran has been under intense scrutiny by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) over its nuclear energy program. Past failure to declare all nuclear facilities and materials in a timely fashion, as revealed in 2002 and 2003, have led to increased concerns among the international community that Iran intends to secretly develop nuclear weapons.
Iran is a member to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and concluded the comprehensive safeguards agreement with the IAEA in 1974. Iran signed the Additional Protocol in 2003, but has
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not yet ratified it.
Iran started its civilian nuclear energy program with assistance from the United States in the 1970s. Iranian nuclear facilities include an uranium enrichment plant in Natanz, and a heavy water reactor near Arak, both of which were concealed from the IAEA until 2002. In 2003, the IAEA announced that Iran had breached its safeguards agreement by failing to fully declare its nuclear activities. Furthermore, IAEA inspectors found traces of enriched uranium on centrifuges imported from Pakistan. Iran claims the contamination stems from the centrifuges’ earlier use in Pakistan and denies having tested them with uranium.
Suspicions on part of the IAEA and Western states prompted by these clandestine activities are compounded by Iran’s plans to master the nuclear fuel cycle. Iran asserts that its nuclear program is for civilian energy purposes only and continues to cite its inalienable right to pursue peaceful energy under Article IV of the NPT.
Many countries suspect that Iran might be misusing Article IV of the NPT to obtain nuclear weapons capabilities and have expressed doubts regarding Iran’s stated need for pursuing sophisticated fuel cycle technologies. The United States, in particular, have been pushing for Iran’s referral to the United Nations Security Council where Iran might face sanctions for its nuclear program.
Urged by IAEA Board of Governors resolutions issued in 2003, Iran is cooperating with the IAEA to allow for the verification of its stated peaceful nuclear program. Iran voluntarily suspended its uranium enrichment activities, and allowed for more intrusive IAEA inspections. Since the fall of 2004, Iran has also been engaged in renewed negotiations with the France, Germany, and the United Kingdom (also known as the EU-3), with the prospect of agreeing on a proposal by August 2005. According to an agreement reached in November of 2004, Iran continues to temporarily suspend its enrichment activities, but has repeatedly threatened to resume enrichment if the EU-3 talks remain fruitless.
Analysis:
Source documents:
 A brief history of U.S.-Iranian nuclear negotiations. Burr, William. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, January/February 2009. - The Evolution of the North Korean Nuclear Crisis: Implications for Iran. Chung Min Lee, Proliferation Papers, No. 25, Ifri, February 2009.
- Evaluating Iran's missile threat. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, May/June 2008.
- Iran's 'Risk-Taking' in Perspective. Shahram Chubin. Proliferation Papers, No. 21, Ifri ,March 21, 2008.
- Iran: Nuclear Intentions and Capabilities. National Intelligence Estimate, November 2007.
- Iran: Time for a New Approach. Robert Gates and Zbigniew Brzezinski, Council on Foreign Relations, November 2006.
- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s letter to the American people, November 29, 2006.
- IAEA Board Report to the United Nations Security Council on Iran. August 31, 2006.
- Resolution 1696 of the UN Security Council under Article 40 of Chapter VII of the UN charter. July 31, 2006.
- International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General’s statement on progress in Iran. June 8, 2006.
- Islamic Republic of Iran’s Response to the P5+1 package of incentives (offered June 6, 2006).
- President Ahmadinejad Letter to George W. Bush, the first direct communication between the Presidents of Iran and the United States since 1979. May 8, 2006.
- Director of National Intelligence John D. Negroponte’s Testimony on Intelligence regarding Iran’s nuclear capabilities. February 2, 2006.
- Short Glance on Iranian Nuclear Issue, a document submitted by Iran the International Atomic Energy Agency. January 24, 2006.
- E3/EU Statement on the Iran Nuclear Issue, a statement by Britain, France and Germany (EU-3) to the International Atomic Energy Agency. January 13, 2006.
- Toward Transatlantic Cooperation in Meeting the Iranian Nuclear Challenge. George Perkovich, Proliferation Papers, No. 14, Ifri, December 7, 2005.
- Resolution by the IAEA Board of Governors on the Iimplementation of Safeguards in Iran. September 24, 2005.
- Iran’s Note Verbale in response to the Board of Governors September 24 2005 Resolution. November 4, 2005.
- Peaceful use of nuclear energy: Working paper submitted by the Islamic Republic of Iran for Main Committee III, 2005 NPT Review Conference, 19 May 2005
- Working paper submitted by the Islamic Republic of Iran for Main Committee I, 2005 NPT Review Conference , 19 May 2005
- General Framework for Objective Guarantees, Firm Guarantees and Firm Commitments Iran-EU3 Document, 3 May 2005
- Statement by H.E. Dr. Kamal Kharrazi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the 2005 NPT Review Conference, 3 May 2005
- IAEA Adopted Resolution, 29 November 2004
- IAEA Report, 15 November 2004
- Text of EU - Iran Nuclear Agreement, 14 November, 2004
- IAEA Report, 18 September 2004
- IAEA Adopted Resolution, 18 September 2004
- IAEA Resolution, 18 June 2004
- Iran Comments on IAEA Director General's Report (GOV/2004/34), 16 June 2004
- IAEA Report, 1 June 2004
- Resolution, 13 March 2004
- IAEA Board Report, 13 March 2004
- Iran Comments on IAEA Director General's Report (GOV/2004/11), 5 March 2004
- IAEA Report, 24 February, 2004
- IAEA Report, 25 November 2003
- IAEA Adopted Resolution, 25 November 2003
- Iran Statement, 21 October 2003
- IAEA Report, 12 September 2003
- IAEA Resolution, 12 September 2003
- Iran Nuclear Proliferation Prevention Act, August 3, 1998
- Iran Safeguards Agreement, 13 September 1974
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Nuclear Weapons 
