The public revelations of Iran's clandestine nuclear activities in August 2002 unleashed one of the most intensive and highly publicized inspections in the history of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

A nuclear-test-free zone in the Middle East would be a realistic and practical way to lower regional tensions.

Iran's month-long delay in inspections of the Qom facility has important implications for the IAEA's ability to properly understand the nature of the previously undeclared enrichment site.

Iran's covert centrifuge facility at Qom was clearly better suited to military ends than the IAEA-monitored facility at Natanz. Serious questions remain about whether Iran could be hiding other parts of its nuclear infrastructure.

Venezuela's close ties to Iran on nuclear cooperation does not help minimize skepticism about its peaceful nuclear intentions.

Given Venezuela's close collaboration with Iran, those states and companies that would contemplate nuclear cooperation with the Chávez government should consider whether they might help recreate the alarming history of Iran's nuclear program and subsequent international crises.

The February IAEA safeguards report on Iran indicates that the answers provided by Iran on all but two issues are "consistent" or "not inconsistent" with its information and on schedule with the agreed-upon work plan. However, the final outstanding issues are those most closely associated with weaponization.

A report from the IAEA laying out a timeline for Iran to resolve outstanding issues related to its nuclear program may give Iran as much as eight months of continued centrifuge installation and operation.