21. Preventive Military Action: The Worst Way to Deal With Iran's Nuclear Program
- Author:
- Greg Thielmann
- Publication Date:
- 06-2009
- Content Type:
- Policy Brief
- Institution:
- Arms Control Association
- Abstract:
- Although the possibility of Iranian nuclear weapons is a major concern for Israel and the United States, leaving the "military option" on the table is counterproductive. Preventive military action by either country against Iran's nuclear facilities would only delay, rather than halt, Tehran's nuclear program, and it would cause Iran to retaliate against the United States as well as Israel. The aftermath of such an attack would be disastrous for the U.S. position in the region-particularly for relations with Israel and with Iraq-and its position in the wider world.
- Topic:
- Arms Control and Proliferation, Nuclear Weapons, and Military
- Political Geography:
- Iran, Middle East, Israel, and United States of America