The U.S. and Europe at a Crossroads on Iran

Europe and the United States have avoided major disagreement on how to address Iran’s nuclear ambitions. In an effort to stave off Iranian efforts to develop a nuclear weapons program, the European Union, led by Britain, France, and Germany, have sought to engage Tehran directly. In exchange for Tehran’s agreement not to develop its capacity for nuclear enrichment and reprocessing, these three nations have offered to provide Iran with support for a civilian nuclear energy program—as well as far-reaching political and economic incentives, which Washington has reluctantly agreed to support.

We are clearly at a crossroads as a new conservative government in Iran continues to rebuke the Europeans, Americans, and International Atomic Energy Agency, and threatens to resume uranium enrichment and ban nuclear inspectors. How the United States and Europe respond to these actions – whether through further negotiations or possible Security Council sanctions—will have a profound impact on U.S.—European relations moving forward.

The briefing, held in conjunction with the DaimlerChrysler Forum, will feature a dynamic group of panelists including: Volker Perthes, director, German Institute for International and Security Affairs; James Dobbins, director, International Security and Defense Policy Center, Rand Corporation; Charles Grant, director, Centre for European Reform; and Philip Gordon, senior fellow and director, Center on the United States and Europe, the Brookings Institution. Ivo Daalder, a Brookings Institution senior fellow, will moderate the panel discussion.

A question and answer session will follow remarks.