After three decades of broken or faltering diplomatic ties between Iran and the West, and a decade of tension over the Iranian nuclear programme, the E3+3 (UK, France, Germany, US, Russia and China – also referred to as the P5+1) and Iran finally made a historic step forward over the weekend.
Analysis
TNW, The Quiet Menace: How the Threats to Europe, the Middle East and South Asia are Linked
London’s International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS; what – you haven’t applied for membership yet?) recently published their annual review of world affairs, Strategic Survey 2013. In its chapter on strategic policy issues, the Survey covers an important topic, the complex nuclear arms race underway in South Asia among India, Pakistan and China.
Reducing the Role of Tactical Nuclear Weapons in Europe: Joint Project
BASIC and the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP) run a joint project on reducing the role of tactical nuclear weapons in Europe, supported by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.
Talking about the Bomb in Tel Aviv
Elzbieta Okuniewska published “Talking about the Bomb in Tel Aviv” for the Palestine-Israel Journal which covers the roundtable discussion that BASIC jointly organised with the Green Cross, the Israeli Disarmament Movement, and IKV Pax Christi. Paul Ingram shared his experience working with Iran on nuclear issues while BASIC senior fellow Ward Wilson presented narratives around rethinking nuclear weapons.
Fathoming Iran’s nuclear intentions
Al-Monitor Israel Pulse columnist, Akiva Eldar, wrote about BASIC's joint roundtable meeting in Tel Aviv in November 2013. The two-day meeting, organised in cooperation with the Green Cross, IKV Pax Christi, and the Israeli Disarmament Movement, brought together a dozen nuclear experts and some high level officials from Israel, Europe, and the United States.
Is Rouhani the real deal?
Negotiating parties in the E3+3 process meet again this Wednesday in Geneva to hammer out an initial agreement on specific limits to Iran’s nuclear program in return for limited sanctions relief. The last time the parties met just over a week ago hopes were high, but an early deal was blocked by France.
Cost and benefits to US strategic interests from UK renewal of Trident
BASIC’s last Strategic Dialogue on nuclear weapons was held on November 12 in Washington, DC.
Gambling with our security?
Our calculations about risk are not always rational. Many people are more afraid of a shark attack or plane crash than they are about driving a car or crossing the street. Statistically, the latter two are far more dangerous but, somehow, the familiarity of driving and a sense of control make the risks feel lower.