Iran And Developing Nuclear Weapons

Iran’s Nuclear Weapons Student’s Name Subject Professor’s Name Date Introduction Since the 1950s, Iran has shown great interest in nuclear weapons. During the period, Iran’s leaders received technical aid from the U.S Atoms for Peace program. But soon after, the aid was terminated. However, Iran’s commitment to the technology enabled them to develop their nuclear fuel cycle, which was coupled with complex enrichment abilities. The development of the nuclear program raised international concerns and became the subject of discussions in various sanctions and negotiations carried out between 2002 and 2015. Specifically, the United States has been following up with Iran’s interest in nuclear weapons since the mid-1970s. Today, Iran’s construction of uranium enrichment facilities is the biggest concern for the U.S. The facility will enable the country to produce fissile material mainly used in making nuclear weapons. For most countries, the main hindrance in creating nuclear weapons is obtaining the fissile material. However, Iran has proven capable of acquiring such material since, in 2014, the country produced low-enriched uranium (LEU) which contained almost 5 percent of uranium-235. If further enriched, this compound can produce highly enriched uranium that can build up to eight nuclear weapons (NTI, 2019). Although Iran already has the material necessary for making nuclear weapons, it remains unclear whether the country has an accurate design for making a nuclear weapon. Nonetheless, Iran’s nuclear program has raised major concerns especially among developed nations, particularly the U.S. Since a large number of terrorist activities can be linked to Iran, especially those that were carried out in the U.S, the country’s nuclear program needs to be prevented because the weapons made might cause more harm. Efforts by the International Community to Prevent Iran from Developing Nuclear Weapons The appropriate means by which the international community can prevent Iran from making nuclear weapons is by setting up nuclear policies, thorough and consistent monitoring, and imposing sanctions. Sanctions are necessary to enforce international law. They are considered effective since they can change a country’s behavior or the regime. The most appropriate sanction that the international community can impose on Iran is an embargo on import and export. This sanction will greatly affect Iran, considering its economy is highly dependent on revenues from oil exports. Previously, the European Union, the United Nations, and the U.S had imposed sanctions on Iran, which were meant to force the country to stop its uranium enrichment program. The sanctions resulted in an economic downfall and a loss of more than $160 billion in revenues from oil export. With a crippled economy, the country will be unable to fund its nuclear program and eventually cease operations. On the other hand, nuclear policies and agreements are an effective but more diplomatic means that the international community can use to restrict Iran from continuing with its nuclear program. The effectiveness of nuclear policies and treaties has been subject to debate for several years, with pessimists stating that treaties such as the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty has been violated several times. However, a recent study confirmed that countries who agree to nuclear treaties are less likely to engage in the nuclear programs, or even purchase nuclear weapons. The policies can change the behavior of a country, especially in the area of national security. But since international cooperation is difficult to achieve, especially with countries that lie in the Middle East, these policies can be backed by sanctions to ensure they are effective. In the case of Iran, the country agreed to sign the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty in 1968, but the treaty lacked sufficient means to prevent Iran from breaking its promise. Nonetheless, the U.S, together with the international community, has developed a more effective agreement that will build on various major areas of protection. The agreement, termed as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action contains a variety of strong provisions which can significantly minimize the risk brought about by Iran’s nuclear weapons program. The agreement allows foreign inspectors on the ground to constantly monitor Iran’s nuclear operations. Also, the agreement places strict physical restrictions on the country’s current supply of potential nuclear ingredients. These physical restrictions mean that Iran can no longer exploit uranium and plutonium to generate the necessary compounds for creating nuclear bombs. The agreements also require Iran to give up close to 97 percent of its enriched uranium. This reduces Iran’s uranium stockpile to almost 300kg, a figure that must not be exceeded until 2031, as indicated in the agreement. Aside from stock, the agreement demands that Iran limits its research and development of nuclear weapons to one facility, Natanz, until 2024. Doing so makes it possible for Iran’s Nuclear program to be closely monitored by the International community. Nuclear agreements can, therefore, be an effective strategy that the international community can use to prevent Iran from engaging in nuclear weapons programs. Nonetheless, in case the country fails to comply, punitive steps can be taken, such as imposing sanctions, as a means of forcing the country to comply. Importance of Iran’s Nuclear Weapons Program Restriction to the U.S Foreign Policy The U.S foreign policy determines how the country conducts relations with other nations. It is further designed to ensure the security of its people, and seek power to project the interest of the U.S worldwide. The country’s interests are shaped by its fo...