Is Nuclear Diplomacy with the Mullahs Possible?

After calling an agreement drafted by European officials "unacceptable," Iran has announced its plans to resume uranium enrichment activities. Despite Tehran's claims that its nuclear program is for civilian purposes only, the general consensus is that Iran is building a bomb. If the nation succeeds in developing nuclear arms, the power structure in the Middle East would be radically altered. And now, a possibility looms ominously overhead: the outright failure of negotiations. If the "softer" European approach fails – as may be the case – will punitive measures be successful? As the international community struggles to develop a viable approach, anxieties abound. As Der Spiegel suggests, for many, the worst-case scenario would be if Iran "completely revokes the Nonproliferation Treaty and – with the potential for blackmail – no longer has to surrender to international controls." – YaleGlobal