By Alfred Nurja
The Washington Post reports November 16 that Iran and the world powers have agreed on a date for starting talks on Iran's nuclear program.
Optimism about chances for success in the upcoming round of talks appears to be in short supply, and a number of notable Middle East policy experts have rushed to offer their best advice on dealing with Iran. Click here and here for outlines of recent recommendations, as well as evidence of the strong feelings that disagreeing experts share on the issue.
A vigorous debate about the Iranian nuclear program is currently underway, but a productive discussion of American policy options requires an empirical understanding of Iranian capabilities.
To address this important issue and establish a credible baseline for evaluating upcoming negotiations, the Arms Control Association is hosting a discussion on Monday, November 22, 2010 with former IAEA Deputy Director-General for Safeguards Olli Heinonen, International Institute for Strategic Studies Senior Fellow for Missile Defense Michael Elleman, and former National Intelligence Officer Paul Pillar. The discussion will be moderated by ACA Senior Fellow Greg Thielmann.
Stay tuned as the panel addresses key questions such as:
How long until Iran could have a viable nuclear weapons capability?
What are Iran's ballistic missile capabilities and what can we expect in the years ahead?
What developments might inform the new National Intelligence Estimate?
What will the new Congress need to know about Iran's capabilities and the options for addressing them?
A full transcript will be available after the event. Click here to register online.