Putting the Iranian nuclear program in a broader context

Iran’s nuclear ambitions have been the focus of international diplomacy for several decades. Faced with accusations of nuclear weapons pursuits and subject to far-reaching sanctions, Iran concluded the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in 2015 to restrict its nuclear pursuits. The United States’ decision to withdraw from the agreement in 2018 and subsequent allegations of Iranian violations of its international commitments cast doubt on the deal’s future. All this came to a head when Israel and the United States conducted extensive air attacks against Iran’s nuclear facilities and missile capabilities in June 2025. While the strikes significantly disrupted Iran’s nuclear program and its potential weaponization, it did not eliminate it. This panel will shed light on Iran’s past, present, and future nuclear ambitions, how Iran’s nuclear program is perceived within the region, what efforts have been taken and will likely be taken to curb Iran’s nuclear program, and how these actions have shaped the nuclear non-proliferation regime.

Host or Publisher Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies