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This page contains summary findings of private roundtable discussions among experts hosted by the Wisconsin Project regarding Iran's weapon progress and the world's efforts to arrest it. Findings from these roundtables are a composite of the panelists' individual views. No finding should be attributed to any single panelist, or be seen as a statement of policy of any government.
Roundtables
November 19, 2013
The U.S. response in Syria provides important insights into the situation in Iran, according to a panel discussion hosted by the Wisconsin Project. The likelihood that the United States will use force in Iran during the remainder of the Obama administration, and the credibility of that threat, have both decreased following the Syria episode. The...
Roundtables
February 21, 2013
There has been a flurry of speculation recently about what to expect from nuclear talks with Iran to be held next week in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Back in December, the United States and its partners dusted off a proposal they had put to Iran earlier in 2012, with the hope that the increasing economic stress caused by sanctions would pull a more...
Roundtables
February 6, 2013
During the past year, the United States, the European Union, and others have put into place the strongest sanctions yet against Iran. These measures restrict business with Iran’s energy, financial, and transport sectors and, in the case of the United States, penalize foreign companies and governments that support these sectors. Nevertheless,...
Roundtables
June 8, 2010
The U.N. Security Council is considering a draft resolution aimed at Iran's illicit nuclear effort. Although the resolution would limit Iran's ability to buy arms, would target Iran's illicit shipping, and would authorize restrictions on Iranian banks, it does not contain the "crippling sanctions" that U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had...
Roundtables
June 4, 2009
Over the past several years, Congress has considered a variety of measures aimed at restraining Iran's nuclear program and its support for terrorism. The 111th Congress is again weighing such measures - just as the time to halt Iran's nuclear progress is growing shorter.
Past bills have chosen among several tactics: encouraging divestment from...
Roundtables
February 6, 2008
Since the autumn of 2003, when the scope of Iran's illicit nuclear activities became public, Britain, France and Germany (the "E3") have led negotiations aimed at limiting the scope of Iran's nuclear program. For several years, this diplomatic initiative was the only concerted effort made to ascertain whether Iran would be willing to freeze its...
Roundtables
September 19, 2006
Most commentary on sanctions holds that because the United States has severed diplomatic and almost all economic ties with Iran, it has no ability to punish Iran unilaterally. However, the United States has never fully enforced its existing arsenal of domestic sanctions vis-a-vis Iran. So, while pursuing Security Council action, could the United...
Roundtables
November 30, 2005
In July 2005, the Bush administration announced an agreement for full civil nuclear cooperation with India, which would have the effect of recognizing India as a de facto nuclear weapon state. The deal, which would also include sharing U.S. space technology with India, is perceived by some as harmful to the battle against the proliferation of mass...
Roundtables
April 13, 2005
Iran is very likely to acquire nuclear weapons if it chose to do so, according to a panel convened by the Wisconsin Project last year. The panel could not foresee any combination of events likely to alter Iran's apparent determination-and ability-to build such arms. This conclusion posed an obvious question: how will the United States and other...
Roundtables
November 19, 2004
It is widely believed that Iran has nuclear weapon ambitions, which it is trying to hide behind a civilian nuclear energy program. The question is whether Iran can be stopped from getting the bomb, given the indigenous capability it has already amassed. If so, which combination of policy tools-diplomacy, inspections, sanctions and the use of force...