CFR Senior Fellows Ray Takeyh and Matthew Kroenig discuss the escalating tension with Iran and the challenges it poses for US strategy in this Council on Foreign Relations Special Briefing.

Micah Zenko and Emma Welch argue that while the Republican presidential candidates overwhelmingly describe the prospect of an Iranian nuclear weapons capability as "unacceptable" and endorse the use of military force if that were necessary to prevent an Iranian bomb, there is a complete absence of any details on how the use of force could accomplish this ambitious objective.

Kim Jong-il's death has prompted discussion about the future of the isolated country and its nuclear weapons program. Experts cited in this CFR Backgrounder believe a post-Kim regime in North Korea would remain a tough nuclear negotiator.

Frank G. Klotz, Susan J. Koch, and Franklin C. Miller argue that as the United States and Russia continue to reduce long-range, strategic nuclear weapons to increasingly lower levels, a disparity in tactical nuclear weapons has serious implications for the overall nuclear balance between the two countries and the continued efficacy of the U.S. nuclear umbrella for its allies.

Ray Takeyh says Iran's rulers view possession of a nuclear bomb as a means to return to the international fold on their own terms.

Secretary of State Clinton gave these remarks on December 7, 2011 at the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention Review Conference in Geneva, Switzerland.

Micah Zenko argues that the ouster of Muammar al-Qaddafi will motivate other dictators to seek out nuclear weapons.

Elliott Abrams, Eliot Cohen, Eric Edelman, and John Hannah, argue that former Vice President Dick Cheney advocation's for a U.S. strike to destroy the al-Kibar nuclear reactor built by Syria and North Korea was based on sound judgment.

Ray Takeyh argues that despite economic sanctions and other attempts to curtail technological development in Iran, its nuclear program has grown in sophistication and capability over the past two decades.

Matthew H. Kroenig argues that the world will not be safer if the United States had no nuclear weapons.

Emma L. Belcher says the recent detterence of a North Korean ship carrying nuclear material highlights the need for criminal codes that take nuclear crimes seriously.

In his new book, Weak Links: Fragile States, Global Threats, and International Security, Stewart Patrick argues that most fragile states are not a threat to the United States.

Leslie H. Gelb reviews The Age of Deception, by Mohamed El Baradei.

Resolution

Matthew Fuhrmann examines the consequences and effectiveness of military strikes against nuclear facilities.

Writing for the Washington Post, Nicholas Eberstadt argues that for all of its many weaknesses, North Korea employs a coherent and consistent strategy for nuclear negotiations.

Richard A. Falkenrath discusses Stuxnet and the need for the United States to engage in offensive information warfare.

As nuclear talks between Iran and major powers resume, the moment is ripe for a U.S.-led diplomatic offensive, backed by economic incentives, to persuade Iran to abandon its uranium enrichment program, says CFR's Matthew Fuhrmann.

This New York Times article by William J. Broad, John Markoff and David E. Sanger examines the development and impact of the Stuxnet computer worm in undermining Iran's nuclear program.

Matthew Fuhrmann and Todd S. Sechser warn against the dangers of the hysteria over nuclear weapons and blackmail that underlies the calls for military force against Iran.