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The Thin Red Line: Six Observations on President Obama's Iran Policy

IN THIS ISSUE: Six observations on Obama's Iran policy, India to set up 20 nuclear reactors, DoD responds to questions on nuclear targeting, panel lays bare Fukushima recipe for disaster, U.S. faces dilemma on nuke treaties, U.S. forces manning radar defense site in Turkey.

Published on February 28, 2012
 

The Thin Red Line: Six Observations on Obama's Iran Policy

Jaclyn Tandler | Proliferation Analysis

Soltanieh

With the Iranian nuclear crisis nearing a watershed, the question of the Obama administration's "red lines" on Iran's nuclear program is the subject of considerable speculation and debate.

While the details of the policy are classified, a close reading of statements by senior officials from press conferences, interviews, congressional hearings, and formal speeches conveys the administration's public efforts to delineate what level of nuclear activity or other moves by Iran would prompt the United States to take more decisive action, most prominently the use of overt force.

These are mostly carefully crafted statements intended to simultaneously deter Iran and reassure U.S. allies, while avoiding unnecessary or at least premature escalation. Full Article

Related:
U.S. Considers New Message on Iran (Wall Street Journal)



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