Iran, Hamas, Israel, and the United States

The United States Institute of Peace is a national, nonpartisan, independent institute, founded by Congress and dedicated to the proposition that a world without violent conflict is possible, practical and essential for U.S. and global security. The USIP regularly gathers statements from US, and some foreign, government officials on particular situations. 

Today the USIP made a statement about the Hamas attack on Israel. They pointed out that Hamas, although a Palestinian movement, is armed and trained by the support of Iran. While US and Israeli officials were initially concerned that Iran was complicit in the attack on Israel, there has been no evidence at this time that Iran directed or was behind it. The US has subsequently warned Iran not to get involved in the current situation. 

Iran has been of grave concern to the US for some time now because of it’s potential for making nuclear weapons. Through several presidencies, with bipartisan convictions, the US has considered Iran one of the greatest threats to US interests in the Middle East. In addition to attempted nuclear weapon proliferation, Iran has created increasingly accurate ballistic missiles, provided drones to Russia, provided financial and military support to militias in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen as well as Hamas and Hezbollah, increased aggression against the US at sea, conducted cyberattacks against the US government and plotted the assassination of US officials. According to intelligence, Iran has the supplies and the capability to make four nuclear weapons in a year or two. Since November of 2022, the US and Israel have increased their joint military operations to combat any move by Iran to produce such weapons. The “Juniper Oak 23” exercise held in January 2023 was the largest U.S.-Israeli military exercise ever conducted. Although numerous US officials have stated that diplomacy is the best way to deal with Iran’s plans for nuclear weapons, all have ended their statements with words along the lines of “but nothing is off the table.”

Israel-Hamas War: U.S. and Europe on Iran Role (October 12, 2023) 

U.S.: The Iran Threat & Options (August 1, 2023)

Pakistan's Nuclear Weapons

On January 14, 2016 the Congressional Research Service (CRS) released a report about Pakistan's nuclear arsenal entitled Pakistan's Nuclear Weapons by Paul K. Kerr, Analyst in Nonproliferation and Mary Beth Nikitin, Specialist in Nonproliferation. The summary reveals that Pakistan has approximately 110-130 or more nuclear warheads. Despite taking steps in recent years to increase the security of its nuclear arsenal, instability in the area causes some to have concerns especially about the fear of a "radical takeover of the Pakistani government or diversion of material or technology by personnel within Pakistan't nuclear complex." The report also highlights issues for Congress.

The Nuclear Weapons Effects National Enterprise

"The Nuclear Weapons Effects National Enterprise," the latest report from the Joint Defense Science Board (DSB)/Threat Reduction Advisory Committee Task Force is now available at http://www.acq.osd.mil/dsb/reports/NWE-National-Enterprise.pdf.

According to Paul G. Kaminiski's introductory memorandum in the report:

Nuclear weapons remain a serious threat to our nation's security. The nation's capability to deter against this threat and provide assurance to our allies requires that US nuclear and conventional forces are able to operate in a nuclear environment. Unfortunately, the nation's expertise and capability to operate in a nuclear environment have decayed. As a result the Department of Defense and the nation are not as well prepared as it should be to deter, defend, and mitigate an attack.

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Additonal reports from the Defense Science Board are available at http://www.acq.osd.mil/dsb/reports2000s.htm

Nuclear Posture Review Report

The Department of Defense has released its April 2010 Nuclear Posture Review Report. The preface indicates the report "describes how the United States will reduce the role and numbers of nuclear weapons" in keeping with President Obama's agenda for reducing nuclear risks to the United States. It states that central elements of the agenda include the "New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty with Russia, the Nuclear Security Summit, our work to strengthen the nuclear nonproliferation regime, and a broader approach to deterrence." The report indicates a need for money to revamp our aging nuclear infrastructure and recommends a stockpile management program to extend the life of our nuclear weapons without having to develop new nuclear warheads.

For news stories, press releases, fact sheets and other information related to the report see http://www.defense.gov/npr/.

U.S. Nuclear Strategy

The Congressional Commission on the Strategic Posture of the United States has released its final report about U.S. nuclear strategy. Entitled America's Strategic Posture: The Final Report of the Congressional Commission on the Strategic Posture of the United, the executive summary's introduction states that in preparing its report the Commission addressed the following questions:

• What factors in the external security environment should inform U.S. policy and strategy?
  
• How has U.S. nuclear and strategic policy evolved since the end of the Cold War?
  
• What role should nuclear weapons and U.S. strategic military capabilities more generally (including missile defense) play today in U.S. military strategy and national security strategy?
  
• How should U.S. forces be postured? How many nuclear weapons are “enough?”
  
• How can political instruments be used to shape the security environment? What can arms control contribute? How can nonproliferation be strengthened?
  
• What is the most efficient and effective way to maintain a safe, secure,
  and reliable deterrent?