Iran Nuclear Crisis

Iran has been expanding its nuclear energy program, leading to international concern that Iranian facilities may also be seeking to develop nuclear weapons.Council on Foreign Relations: Iran: The Nuclear Threat (September 6, 2005) Stagnant international negotiations and pressure from Israel have led to speculation that a conflict may be imminent.AntiWar.com: Is War With Iran Imminent? (April 28, 2008)

On April 8, 2009, the U.S. State Department announced that the United States would engage in nuclear talks with Iran, along with the United Nations and European powers. A State Department spokesman said that the Obama administration had asked the European Union's international policy chief to invite Iran to join talks between the permanent members of U.N. Security Council and Germany.CNN.com: U.S. to join nuclear talks with Iran, State Department says

Israel has long stated that it would consider an Iranian nuclear weapon as a threat to its existence. When Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad criticized Israeli nuclear policy at the 2007 IAEA conference, Israeli Ambassador Israel Michaeli responded by saying: "Those who call for the elimination of Israel have no moral standing when they criticize Israeli policies aimed at defending Israel's very existence."Reuters: Iran and Israel in bitter clash at U.N. watchdog debate (September 21, 2007)

In July of 2008, Iran performed a series of missile tests aimed at showing off its improved missile technology and range. According to reports, the missiles displayed capabilities that made them ideal weapons to attack Israel with. The tests prompted U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to announce that "[the United States is] sending a message to Iran that we will defend American interests and the interests of our allies."CBS News: Rice: U.S. Will Defend Israel From Iran (July 10, 2008)

According to The Washington Post, Iran has refused to stop producing uranium despite UN Security Council demands dating back to March 2006. As a means to persuade Iran to suspend production, the U.S., Britain, Russia, China, France and Germany (otherwise known as the "P5+1"AFP: World powers mulling fresh Iran sanctions: US (August 6, 2008)) offered "economic, political and security incentives" to Iran in June 2008. Iran provided "no clear response" to the offer.The Washington Post: Iran Set to Respond to Offer... (August 5, 2008)

During international talks in Geneva on July 19, 2008, the P5+1 gave Iran two weeks to answer.The Washington Post: Iran Set to Respond to Offer... (August 5, 2008) Several days after the deadline, Iran sent a "non-committal letter" in response, which was interpreted as a "stalling tactic" to the White House.BBC: World powers mull Iran sanctions (August 6, 2008)

Iran's letter, delivered on August 5, stated that they were "not prepared to move any further," and that they would give a "clear response" only if they got a "'clear response' to [their] questions" regarding the incentives.AFP: World powers mulling fresh Iran sanctions: US (August 6, 2008)

In November of 2008, a report from global atomic inspectors stated that Iran had produced enough uranium to create an atomic bomb. However, experts explained that Iran's uranium would require further refinement and need to be fashioned into a warhead before an atomic bomb could be created, the technology for which Iran is not known to possess.The New York Times: Iran Said to Have Nuclear Fuel for One Weapon (November 19, 2008)

• Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
  • MSNBC.com: Ahmadinejad: Iran expanding nuclear process

• George W. Bush
  • FoxNews.com: Bush: Iran With Nuclear Weapons is "Unacceptable"

• Tony Blair
  • Telegraph.co.uk: PM challenges Iran as nuclear deadline expires

• Vladimir Putin
  • Independent Online: Russia hardens stance on Iran's nuclear plans

• Mohammed ElBaradei
  • CNN.com: ElBaradei calls for timeout on Iran nuclear program