The Iran Nuclear File: Assessing the Negotiations and the Way Forward

Negotiations between the permanent members of the Security Council plus Germany and Iran resulted 2013 in an arrangement that will last until 24 November 2014. The negotiations have focused on Iran's enrichment programme, but allegations of possible military dimensions to Iran's nuclear programme still need to be resolved between the IAEA and Iran. What is the history of Iran's nuclear programme? What mandate does IAEA have to investigate safeguarded states and validate third party information?

Panellists:

Hans Blix served as Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) from 1981 to 1997, and was Executive Chairman of the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) for Iraq from 2000 to 2003.

Gareth Porter is a historian and investigative journalist on US foreign and military policy analyst. He writes regularly for Inter Press Service on US policy towards Iraq and Iran. Author of Manufactured Crisis: The Untold Story of the Iran Nuclear Scare (Just World Books, 2014).

Tariq Rauf is the Director of the Disarmament, Arms Control and Non-Proliferation Programme at SIPRI. He previously served as Head, Verification and Security Policy Coordination Office, reporting to the Director General, at IAEA.

Robert Kelley is an Associate Senior Research Fellow within the SIPRI Nuclear Weapons Project of the Disarmament Arms Control and Non-Proliferation Programme. He served twice as a Director of nuclear inspections in Iraq in 1992 and again in 2001 for the IAEA.

The discussion was moderated by Mats Karlsson, Director of UI.