Iran
Iran's nuclear interest seemed normal “on the surface, as Iran has ample incentives to acquire nuclear weapons, given its dangerous and unstable neighborhood. However, despite persistent chaos on its frontiers, Iran's nuclear program has always been conditioned by a narrower but more existential set of threats” (Takeyh 22). So many countries viewed Iran's nuclear program to be a natural course of action because of the instability of Iran's neighboring countries.
However, with the September 11 attack, United States' attitude about Iran changed and viewed Iran as one of the Axis of Evils. “As the Bush Administration energetically addresses the issues of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East, Iran has suddenly emerged as one of Washingon’s foremost concerns" (Takeyh 21). The United States led by the Bush Administration saw Iran's nuclear program as a threat to the United States and the world, and tried to halt Iran's nuclear program.
The main concern was that nobody knew the progress of Iran's nuclear bomb research, or whether or not Iran even started their nuclear weapons program. “While much of the political debate in Iran is conducted in public, nuclear discussions are largely held in secret. Nonetheless, at times of intense international crisis, such as the recent American war in Iraq, the veil of secrecy lifts and the contours of the debate seep into the pages of newspapers and specialized journals that often act as surrogates for the various clerical factions” (Takeyh 24).
With these concerns ciruclating around Iran, measures on preventing Iran from using refined nuclear fuel for weapon use were by the United States and the IAEA. In 2003 the IAEA and Iranian government was able to sign an agreement that would allow inspection on Iran's nuclear program and allow for a clear insight on whether Iran had nuclear weapons. So far no weapon production by the Iranian government was detected after the agreement was made. However, it is vital that the United States and the world watches Iran's move on its nuclear research programs and be wary of a potential covert or secret weapons development. "A more clever diplomacy of carrots and sticks, offering to integrate Iran into the global economy while holding out the stark threat of multilateral pressures, can best dissuade if from taking the nuclear road" (Takeyh 28).
Links to Iran News Articles
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https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/germany-vows-to-stand-by-iran-nuclear-deal-/1461689
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