Robert Litwak and Hadi Semati

Western suspicions of Iran's nuclear ambitions have resulted in a decision to report Iran to the United Nation's Security Council. This will allow international diplomacy a brief, intense period of activity aimed at defusing the crisis. The difficulty of the task is suggested by the adamant insistence of the Iranian government on its right to proceed with nuclear development. The provocative stances of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad are seen as an additional source of concern about Iran's ultimate intentions.