Resident Scholar  Michael Rubin

While a peaceful, civilian nuclear program in Iran might be acceptable under certain conditions--including an external source of nuclear fuel and a stringent safeguards and inspections regime--it is the decided judgment of this group that continued Iranian enrichment of uranium and ineffectively monitored operation of the light water reactor at Bushehr threatens U.S. and global security, regional stability, and the international nonproliferation regime. As a new president prepares to occupy the Oval Office, the Islamic Republic's defiance of its Non-Proliferation Treaty safeguards obligations and United Nations Security Council resolutions will be among the greatest foreign policy and national security challenges confronting the nation.

We believe a realistic, robust, and comprehensive approach--incorporating new diplomatic, economic and military tools in an integrated fashion--can prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons capability. This comprehensive approach should feature a new diplomatic strategy underpinned by carefully calibrated financial and military leverage. We agree successful resolution of the Iranian problem requires laying a strong strategic foundation that consists of coordinating with our allies and other international players, building adequate diplomatic, financial and military leverage and then strategically applying such leverage within the context of diplomatic engagement. There are no magic formulas or silver bullets that will resolve this grave challenge easily, and all courses of action or inaction carry serious tradeoffs. Instead, the Iranian threat requires a serious bipartisan strategy that is coordinated with our allies, addresses concrete realities and advances U.S. national security. . . .

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Michael Rubin is a resident scholar at AEI.