(Institute for National Security Studies) Emily B. Landau and Ephraim Asculai - Three years after the implementation of the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA) in mid-January 2016, supporters insist that "the deal is working" - but what does this mean? If the intention is that Iran is prevented from becoming a nuclear weapons state, clearly this is not the case; not least because the deal has an expiration date in the form of its sunset provisions, and thus at best only delays the time whereby Iran is able, technically, to continue developing a nuclear weapon. If the deal is dangerously flawed, compliance with its terms would not confirm that it has prevented Iran from carrying on its nuclear development program or that there is room for complacency regarding the prospects of Iran going nuclear in the future. Two major problems related to the Iran deal that arose over the course of 2018 demand immediate attention. The first relates to inspections at undeclared nuclear-related facilities in Iran. The second is Iran's missile program, in particular the recent Iranian test of a medium-range missile that can reach the entire Middle East and parts of Europe, and can carry a nuclear warhead. Dr. Emily B. Landau heads the Arms Control and Regional Security Program at INSS at Tel Aviv University. Dr. Ephraim Asculai, a senior research associate at INSS, worked at the Israel Atomic Energy Commission for over 40 years.
2019-01-16 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive