The Iranian Nuclear Game

Every few weeks or months the headlines scream that Tehran is hell-bent on acquiring nuclear weapons. But there are good reasons to believe that — while Iran certainly wouldn’t mind having some nukes — its nuclear weapons program is essentially a piece of political theatre, intended to extract concessions rather than plutonium.

Key Analysis

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U.S. President George W. Bush

U.S.: A Bush Reversal on the NIE?

January 16, 2008 2358 GMT

Newsweek is reporting that U.S. President George W. Bush told Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert during Bush’s recent visit to Israel that he did not agree with the National Intelligence Estimate assessment on Iran. [more]

U.S. President George W. Bush speaking to press

U.S.: Backtracking on Iran's Nuclear Program?

December 21, 2007 1926 GMT

The United States said Dec. 21 that the Dec. 3 National Intelligence Summary should not be taken as a reason to decrease the urgency of containing Iran's nuclear ambitions. [more]

Iranian students hold banner supporting nuclear energy

Iran: Wielding its Regained Nuclear Leverage

December 18, 2007 1724 GMT

Iran has regained -- and is keeping a firm grip on -- its nuclear bargaining chip to use in negotiations with Washington, but the Bush administration's patience could be wearing thin. [more]

Geopolitical Diary: The U.S.-Iranian Dance

December 18, 2007 0259 GMT

Russia said Monday that it has delivered its first fuel shipment to the Iranian power plant at Bushehr, fulfilling a long-standing agreement. [more]

U.S. National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley at a press conference

Iran's Nuclear Gambit: A Timeline of Events

December 4, 2007 1651 GMT

The release of a new U.S. National Intelligence Estimate that says Iran quit work on its nuclear weapons program four years ago marks a momentous shift in the dynamics of the Middle East. [more]

Geopolitical Weekly