Iranian Nuclear Program and its implications for the stability and security of the Region - Essay Example

Iran’s nuclear program began in the 1950s when the United States assisted the Shah to build 20 nuclear power reactors as part of the state’s modernization efforts. In addition to this, research and development efforts were conducted during the Shah’s tenure on fissile material production. But, in the aftermath of the Iranian Revolution in 1979, all nuclear activity was halted. Research and further nuclear development activity resumed in recent years. The Iran-Iraq War was responsible for the re-emergence of an intensified effort to develop nuclear capability.

Instead of the benign objectives of the Shah previously, the purpose of the current Iranian nuclear program is in line with the military and defence aims of the state. And, after the Iraqi threat, the nuclear weapons development would later came to be publicly aimed at Israel and the United States. A more sober and conservative analysis of the Iranian objective was laid down by Charles Mayer (2004): As a small status quo state, Iran has no overt military ambitions beyond its borders. Its grand strategy is to foster a Gulf leadership role while providing a credible deterrent to any future attack.