The Israeli Strategy against the Iranian Nuclear Project

This article surveys the strategy employed by israel against the Iranian nuclear program since 2009. The strategy rests on three pillars – clandestine countermeasures, an intensive diplomatic effort, and the presentation of a concrete military option – and reflects a conscious willingness to pay a heavy economic, diplomatic, and security price. This strategy has contributed greatly to the international effort to halt Iran’s nuclear project, as reflected in the intensification of sanctions to a point that brought Iran to the negotiating table. The desired results, however, have not yet been achieved. The article contends that Israel should adhere to its current strategy while adapting it to new challenges in order to influence the major powers and achieve and implement the best possible permanent agreement with Iran, or alternatively, to prepare for a crisis situation.