Antonio Graceffo
Geopolitical Monitor, July 22, 2024
“The April 13 attack on Israel, where Iran launched 300 missiles and drones, suggests that Iran is more willing to risk triggering a war, increasing the potential shift toward nuclear weapons if attacked.”
Iran’s military activity, support for terrorism, and advancements in nuclear capabilities were the central focus of the US-Israel Strategic Consultative Group meeting held on June 16 at the White House, where US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Secretary of State Antony Blinken hosted Israeli National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer. All parties reached a consensus that steps must be taken to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
Iran, a charter member of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), insists its nuclear program is for energy, not weapons. Citing Article IV of the NPT, Iran justifies its uranium enrichment activities as a right to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. While claiming to honor its NPT obligations, Iran has been accused by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of breaching safeguards by concealing parts of its nuclear program and failing to address questions regarding possible military dimensions. This led to UN Security Council sanctions in 2010 intended to compel Iran to provide the necessary data and suspend all unauthorized enrichment activities.
The IAEA, a UN body responsible for monitoring nuclear compliance, continues to play a critical role in verifying Iran’s adherence to nuclear agreements, especially following the signing of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) nuclear deal on July 14, 2015. However, in 2019, Iran began breaching the JCPOA’s limits in response to the US withdrawal from the nuclear deal the previous year, marking a significant escalation in its sensitive nuclear activities. Concurrently, Tehran reduced IAEA access and monitoring, creating significant oversight gaps. … [To read the full article, click here]