There is a lot riding on the current negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 states (U.S., Russia, China, France, U.K. and Germany) on the scope of the Iranian nuclear program. Reaching an agreement would provide evidence to the international community of the peaceful nature of Iran’s program. Finding common ground with a nation who has admitted to housing secret nuclear programs would be a positive step towards ending the decade-long nuclear stand-off between Tehran and the international community.
On the flip side, there is another possible outcome to these negotiations: the parties cannot agree to a solution and Iran’s nuclear program continues under no restrictions and/or inspections. This is the most unfavorable outcome and it is difficult to predict the likelihood of this scenario. Domestic politics, both in the U.S. and other negotiating countries, can undermine a positive outcome. With the November 24th deadline looming, it is important to understand the implications of the spectrum of options set before us with respect to nuclear security, disarmament (specifically a Middle East Nuclear Weapons Free Zone) and overall international security.
You are cordially invited to a round-table forum led by Professor R. Scott Kemp of the MIT Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering. Professor Kemp will lead the discussion on current nuclear negotiations with Iran and their possible outcomes and implications.
Kemp’s research combines physics, engineering and the history of science to draw more clearly the limits and policy options for achieving international security under technical constraints. He is an expert on enrichment technology and has previous experience as the State Department’s science advisor in the Office of the Special Advisor for Nonproliferation and Arms Control.
Mareena Robinson Snowden is a DOE NNSA Stewardship Science Doctoral Fellow
in the Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering, the current president of the MIT Chapter of Global Zero and a Steering Committee member of Radius/The Technology and Culture Forum at MIT.
