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Q&A: What's with the war talk surrounding Iran?

Tensions over Iran’s nuclear program have escalated in recent weeks as the US and Europe ramp up sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

5. When might sanctions be lifted?

Office of the Supreme Leader/AP/File
Iranian army cadets seen during a graduation ceremony in a military university, in Tehran, Iran, Nov. 10, 2011. Iran continues to threaten to cut off access to the Strait of Hormuz, and just this weekend claimed they have begun enriching uranium. As tensions with the West increase, what is to be made of talk of war?

  • By Dan Murphy Staff Writer

Lifting sanctions would in theory be quite easy. Iran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only. But the International Atomic Energy Agency has long complained that Iran is not fully cooperating with its inspection regime.

Allowing inspectors unhindered access to all nuclear sites in the country would go a long way in assuaging US and European concerns – particularly full and immediate disclosure of what it’s working on. There have been a number of instances of concealment of aspects of the program in the past. Or Iran could simply give up its nuclear program entirely. 

But powers that be in Iran, from Mr. Ahmadinejad to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have invested a lot of personal prestige in the nuclear program and gone on record repeatedly calling civilian nuclear power a right that cannot be compromised. In practice, it’s hard to see either side backing down soon.

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Mark Sappenfield
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