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Missiles and the Nuclear Negotiations with Iran
(Washington Institute for Near East Policy) Michael Eisenstadt - Iran is now insisting that UN sanctions on its ballistic missile program be lifted as part of a long-term nuclear accord, a development that highlights the importance Tehran attaches to its missile arsenal. Iran is believed to have the largest strategic missile force in the Middle East. Its medium-range ballistic missiles could deliver a nuclear weapon if Iran were to build such a device. Many observers remain concerned that personnel and facilities tied to Iran's missile program were, and may still be, engaged in work related to possible military dimensions (PMD) of the nuclear program. Iran has a likely inventory of more than 800 short- and medium-range ballistic missiles including the Shahab-3 (1,000-1,300 km.) and Qadr (1,500-2,000 km.) that can reach Israel. Tehran has built this massive inventory so that it can saturate and thereby overwhelm enemy missile defenses. Its conventional missiles could serve as decoys that enable nuclear missiles to penetrate defenses. Washington and its partners must insist that Tehran respond to the IAEA's questions about past engineering studies, design work, tests, and other elements of the PMD file prior to the lifting of sanctions. There is also a need for a UN Security Council resolution that would impose limitations on Iran's missile R&D work and threaten real consequences for those who assist Iran's missile program. Failure to do so would signal tacit acceptance of activities that could enable Iran to deploy its first nuclear weapon atop a medium-range missile. The writer is director of the Military and Security Studies Program at The Washington Institute.