Addressing Iran’s Nuclear Ambitions

Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security

Thursday, April 24, 2008
09:30 AM

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Although the release of the December 2007 National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) on Iran has led some to question the immediacy of the Iranian threat, the NIE affirmed Iran’s continued enrichment of uranium and its simultaneous pursuit of ballistic missile delivery capabilities. This dangerous combination remains a cause for real concern and warrants continued action by the United States and the international community. This hearing will examine what the U.S. and its allies must do to develop an Iran strategy that establishes both short- and long-term goals. Additionally, it will explore what the most effective U.S. policy options are regarding Iran – particularly in relation to Iran’s nuclear ambitions – and what lessons, if any, can be gleaned from U.S. involvement with North Korea and Libya, and how those lessons might be applicable to Iran.

Special Congressional Witnesses

Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA), Ranking Member of Judiciary Committee; Senior Member of the Defense and Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittees; former Chairman of the Intelligence Committee

Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Member of the Intelligence and Judiciary Committees; Chairman of Terrorism, Technology, and Homeland Security Judiciary Subcommittee; Senior Member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee

Witnesses

Panel 1

• Mr. Jeffrey Feltman [view testimony]
  Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary
  Near Eastern Affairs, U.S. Department of State
• Ms. Patricia McNerney [view testimony]
  Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation
  Department of State

Panel 2

• Ambassador Dennis Ross [view testimony]
  Counselor and Ziegler Distinguished Fellow
  Washington Institute for Near East Policy
• Mr. Stephen Rademaker [view testimony]
  Senior Counsel
  Barbour Griffith and Rogers, LLC
• Dr. Graham Allison [view testimony]
  Director
  Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs and Douglas Dillon Professor of Government, Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government
• Dr. Jim Walsh [view testimony]
  Research Associate
  Massachusetts Institute of Technology