On September 15, the Iran Task Force of the Atlantic Council hosted a public briefing to mark the release of the Task Force’s fourth issue brief, “How Reliable is Intelligence on Iran’s Nuclear Program?”
Panelists discussed the difficult role of the United States intelligence community, other Western intelligence agencies, and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in gathering critical information about Iran’s nuclear program. The speakers compared the reliability of recent intelligence on Iran to knowledge about Iraq’s nuclear program and recount lessons learned from Iraq. The panelists also discussed Iran’s motivations in continuing nuclear development despite intensifying sanctions and what steps the United States and its diplomatic partners can still take to try to convince Iran not to build and test nuclear weapons.
The Iran Task Force is co-chaired by Atlantic Council Chairman Senator Chuck Hagel and Ambassador Stuart E. Eizenstat, and seeks to perform a comprehensive analysis of Iran’s internal political landscape, its role in the region and globally, and any basis for an improved relationship with the West. Please click here for more information about the Iran Task Force.
Introductory Remarks by
Sen. Chuck Hagel
Chairman, Atlantic Council
Co-Chair, Iran Task Force, Atlantic Council
The Hon. Stuart E. Eizenstat
Member, Atlantic Council Board of Directors
Co-Chair, Atlantic Council Iran Task Force
Featured Panelists
Olli Heinonen
Senior Fellow, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard University
Former Deputy Director, International Atomic Energy Association
David Albright
Founder and President, Institute for Science and International Security
Paul Pillar
Director of Graduate Studies, Georgetown University’s Center for Peace and Security Studies
Former National Intelligence Officer for the Near East and South Asia
Moderated by
Barbara Slavin
Nonresident Fellow, South Asia Center, Atlantic Council