How to Deal With the Iranian Nuclear Programme - Foreign Affairs & Security

Dossier: How to deal with the Iranian nuclear program

Map with the most important locations of the Iranian nuclear politics

Map marking the most important nuclear locations in Iran (GNU FDL)

Introduction

Since 2006, the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung has organised a series of expert discussions on how the international community should deal with Iran's nuclear ambitions. On the one hand, we consider a possible nuclear bomb in the hands of the Islamic republic of Iran as a non-tolerable threat to regional stability, Israel’s security, and Western interests. On the other hand, we do not believe that military action against Iran is a viable alternative. The roundtable series brought together transatlantic experts, diplomats, and policy makers to find common solutions beyond appeasement or bombardment. The discussions have focused on the negotiations at the UN Security Council and the IAEA, on transatlantic policy options for the EU and the US, Russia's regional and international positions, and Iran's regional ambitions and their effect on non-proliferation in the Middle East. In addition, the participants also highlighted the challenges of an Iranian nuclear weapons capability for Israel and Turkey, and the role of international sanctions against Iran.

Roundtables took place in Brussels and London in 2006, in New York in 2007, and in Tel Aviv, Istanbul, Moscow, Paris, and Berlin in 2008. Partner organisations include the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) in Tel Aviv, the Carnegie Center Moscow, the Brookings Institution in Washington, DC, the Aspen Institute Berlin.

Background

Executive Summary

Towards a New Transatlantic Strategy on Iran and its Nuclear Program

February 10, 2010 - In June 2009 the Heinrich Böll Foundation, the American Jewish Committee and the Aspen Institute Germany jointly organized and hosted a one-day, closed door conference for senior policy makers, practitioners, experts and select members of the media at Aspen. It marked the final event of a series of discussions on the Iranian nuclear challenge carried out by the Heinrich Böll Foundation over the last two years. more»

Comment

Can the Iranian Nuclear Program Still be Stopped?

- February 4, 2008 - He who wishes to avoid the fatal alternative: “to bomb or to accept”, must therefore focus on a combination of overtures and pressure when dealing with Iran. By Ralf Fücks more»

Documentation

Addressing Iran’s Nuclear Ambitions – Sanctions, Allies, and the U.S. Domestic Debate

- 26. März 2008 - This paper highlights some of the intricacies of the Iranian nuclear crisis facing the international community in general and the transatlantic partnership in particular. The international crisis over Iran’s nuclear program is one of the most complex current conflicts. In recent years, the Middle East region has undergone dramatic changes. Tehran’s increasingly aggressive rhetoric in foreign policy mirrors its growing self-esteem and its demand for respect and international recognition as a powerful regional player. mehr»

Summary Report

How to Deal with the Iranian Nuclear Programme?

- 11. März 2008 - On 18 February 2008, the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung hosted a dinner discussion with Knesset member Yossi Beilin in Berlin which was attended by politicians, journalists, diplomats, and academics. According to Beilin, the real danger of an Iranian nuclear weapons capability will be the shifting balance of power in the Middle East rather than an Iranian nuclear attack on Israel. By Carolin Moje mehr»

Veranstaltungsreihe zum Umgang mit dem iranischen Atomprogramm

- 26. März 2008 - 2007 führte die Stiftung eine Veranstaltungsreihe für internationale ExpertInnen fort, welche sich den unterschiedlichen Betrachtungsweisen und Herangehensweisen der EU und der USA gegenüber dem iranischen Atomprogramm widmet. Das Dilemma der politischen Ausgangslage: Auf der einen Seite gilt eine mögliche Atombombe in den Händen Irans als eine nicht-hinnehmbare Bedrohung für. Gleichzeitig sind wir überzeugt, dass eine militärische Aktion keine akzeptable Alternative darstellt.
mehr»

Round Table Reports

Summary Tel Aviv Round Table, January 2008

May 2, 2008 - The debate at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) in Tel Aviv took place under the shadow of the US National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) report and the recent US diplomatic engagement for a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The majority of participants agreed that a US military attack on Iran would be highly unlikely in the near future and were mostly in favor of direct US-Iranian negotiations. more»

Summary Moscow Round Table, February 2008

- May 3, 2008 - The roundtable discussion in Moscow revealed a number of recurring themes. According to the majority of participants, Russia’s current Iran policy is guided mainly by tactical calculations. The Russian leadership views Iran as a bargaining chip in its troubled relationship with the US. more»

Summary Istanbul Round Table, January 2008

- May 2, 2008 - The Istanbul debate on dealing with the Iranian nuclear program offered a view into the positions of Turkey as one of Iran’s neighbors during a challenging political period for the country. While some participants saw the Iranian nuclear program as a threat to Turkey’s national security, others emphasized Western double standards and the flaws of the nonproliferation regime. more»

Summary New York Round Table, October 2007

- May 3, 2008 - The October 2007 roundtable discussion at the German House in New York focused on the tectonic shift that has taken place in the Middle East since the war in Iraq. In the perceptions of the Arab countries, Iranian-Arab rivalry has supplanted the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that was the focus of tensions a few years ago. more»

Summary Brussels Round Table, December 2006

- May 2, 2008 - The Brussels conference on Iran and its nuclear ambitions provided insight into the role of the international community, international organizations, and the Middle Eastern states. The participants characterized the EU’s multilateral negotiation approach as successful because it maintained an international consensus, but as unsuccessful in delivering the security guarantees, in which Iran’s leadership is interested. more»

Partner Organizations

The Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv
http://www.inss.org.il

The Carnegie Center Moscow
http://www.carnegie.ru/en/

The Brookings Institution in Washington, DC
http://www.brookings.edu

Aspen Institute Berlin
http://www.aspeninstitute.de

18.2.	"Allein unter Deutschen" - Lesung und Gespräch mit Tuvia Tenenbom
21.2.	„A Lot Like You“ - Filmabend und Diskussion - Filmreihe “Her Stories - Filmmakers with African Roots”
28.2.	Green Lecture mit Rob Hopkins: Transition – Modell für eine zukunftsfähige Lebensweise? - Internationale Vortragsreihe zu Zukunftsfähigkeit, nachhaltiger Entwicklung und Ressourcengerechtigkeit Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung, Berlin
6.3.	Symposium: Im Bann der sinnlichen Natur - Wege in eine lebensfördernde Gesellschaft
14.3.	„The Place in Between“ - Filmabend mit Diskussion - Filmreihe “Her Stories - Filmmakers with African Roots”
22.- 24.3.	Energize, Polarize, Mobilize! Human Rights, Participation, Activism, Internet. - International Workshop Conference Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung, Berlin
9./10. 4.	Energiewende – Think European! - International Conference Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung, Berlin
17.5.	„Footprints of my Other“ - Filmabend und Diskussion - Filmreihe “Her Stories - Filmmakers with African Roots”
13.6.	Kurzfilme von Afro-Europäischen Fimemacherinnen - Filmreihe “Her Stories - Filmmakers with African Roots”
1.- 11.9.	Chicago - Hamburgs Partnerstadt in den USA

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