U.S. Policy Toward Iran - Is a Nuclear Iran on the Horizon?

The year is 2015 and Iran is armed with nuclear weapons. U.S. policy objectives with respect to Iran continue with no overt changes from early 2000 isolate and contain Iran within the Middle East region and the world, seek regime change, and rely on United Nations sanctions to achieve U.S. and international policy goals. Contrast U.S. policy objectives with a now nuclear armed Iran in 2015. This reality would mean greater Iranian power and influence within the Middle East, and would change the political dynamics with profound, irreversible consequences The challenges created by a Middle East arms race to obtain nuclear weapons and the potential for Iran to provide a nuclear umbrella protection and capabilities to state and non-state actors. To avert this foreboding prospect, the U.S. must adopt a new strategic deterrence policy toward Iran, and a multilateral engagement strategy. The task to achieve tangible U.S. multi-lateral policy results will be daunting, while sufficing Irans peaceful nuclear energy requirements, but it is a goal that must be attained for the security and stability of the world.