Addressing the Military Dimensions of Iran’s Nuclear Program

While Iran continues to keep the pressure on to weaken the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA’s) effort to get to the bottom of the well-founded allegations that it had a nuclear weapons program, the Obama administration is giving the impression that it is softening its position on this critical issue. The administration should publicly state that the results of the IAEA’s investigation are critical and are linked to sanctions relief.

On October 21, 2015, the Supreme Leader of Iran Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, laid out Iran’s own set of conditions and interpretations along with an endorsement of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The published letter to President Hassan Rouhani “enumerate[ed] ninepoint requirements for the implementation of the JCPOA,” including that certain of Iran’s nuclear dismantlement steps would happen only after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) “closes” or concludes the file on its investigation of past and present possible military dimensions (PMDs).

These well-founded PMD allegations are that Iran had a nuclear weapons program in the past, parts of which may have continued until recently. This information is extensive and credible. A significant body of evidence, which had been extensively corroborated and tested as to its veracity, is in the Annex of the November 2011 IAEA Iran safeguards report. Since that report, the IAEA has collected additional information, according to later safeguards reports.

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