ABSTRACT
Iran’s revolutionary government has attempted to pursue various elements of the Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi program, but many of the earlier accomplishments were dissipated during the turmoil of the Iranian Revolution and the country’s subsequent war with Iraq. In the wake of its defeat in its eight-year war with Iraq, Iran, whose military capabilities already include ballistic missiles and chemical weapons, has launched a major rearmament program. In February 1987, another prominent Iranian official hinted that the country was seeking to develop nuclear weapons. The direct call for nuclear arming by such an authoritative figure would seem to be an important indicator of Iran’s long-term nuclear intentions. A consortium of West Germany, Argentina, and Spain has also bid to complete the Bushehr nuclear power plants. Iran might also seek nuclear assistance from the People’s Republic of China and North Korea, both of which became major arms suppliers to Iran during the Iran-Iraq War.
