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Iran's Nuclear Narrative Needs to Be Challenged
(Washington Institute for Near East Policy) Simon Henderson and Olli Heinonen - The International Atomic Energy Agency's latest report on Iran's nuclear program, released Nov. 14, contains persistent suspicions of Iran's true motives, as detailed under the heading "Possible Military Dimensions." "Since 2002, the Agency has become increasingly concerned about the possible existence in Iran of undisclosed nuclear-related organizations, including activities related to the development of a payload for a missile." The agency also received information indicating that Iran has carried out activities "relevant to the development of a nuclear explosive device." The report deemed this intelligence to be "credible," noting that the IAEA has obtained more information since November 2011 that "further corroborates" its analysis. The apparent aim of current diplomacy is to make sure that Iran's nuclear activities are kept under a stringent safeguards regime. Yet any such system requires clarity about what Iran has done and may still be doing clandestinely. Simon Henderson is director of the Gulf and Energy Policy Program at The Washington Institute. Olli Heinonen is a former deputy director-general for safeguards at the IAEA.