Living on the Edge

In this book, the authors explore the controversial Iranian nuclearprogramme through the conceptual lens of nuclear hedging.In 2002, revelations regarding undeclared nuclear facilities thrustIran’s nuclear activities under the spotlight and prompted concerns thatTehran was pursuing nuclear weapons. Iran has always denied nuclear weaponsaspirations, yet it cannot be disputed that the Islamic Republic has gone wellbeyond what is required for a civil nuclear programme based on energyproduction and scientific research. What, then, is the nature and significance of Iran's nuclear behaviour?Does it form part of a coherent strategy? What can Iran's actions in thenuclear field tell us about Tehran's intentions? And what does the Iraniancase teach us about proliferation behaviour more generally? This book addresses thesequestions by exploring the nature of nuclear hedging and how this approachmight be identified, before applying this logic to the Iranian case. Itprovides fresh insights into the inherently opaque area of nuclearproliferation and a more nuanced interpretation of the Iranian nuclearchallenge.