Iran Report Makes Case for Keeping Pressure On

By Michael Jacobson

A piece I had in today's Baltimore Sun on last week's NIE on Iran's nuclear intentions and capabilities.

Some analysts are arguing that because last week's National Intelligence Estimate concluded that Iran halted its covert nuclear program in 2003, sanctions against Iran are no longer necessary. In fact, the opposite conclusion could be drawn from the report, which suggests that Iran is vulnerable to outside pressure on the nuclear issue - and much more still needs to be done on this front.

In 2005, the U.S. embarked on a new strategy designed to ratchet up the financial pressure against Tehran for its nuclear-related activities and its support for terrorism. The U.S. made clear that as long as Iran persisted in defying the international community, the costs of its behavior would increase. Treasury Undersecretary Stuart Levey warned that Iranian leaders risked "turning the country into a financial pariah" and that Iran had to choose whether to continue down this "path of isolation."

To read the rest of the piece, click here

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