Title: The rise and the fall of nuclear diplomacy under duress: need for a constructive engagement

Authors: Abu Mohammad Asgarkhani

Addresses: Department of International Relations, Faculty of Law and Political Science, The University of Tehran, Iran

Abstract: A very long process of nuclear diplomacy under duress against the Islamic Republic of Iran has come to an end. The setting is now prepared for a constructive engagement due to the compelling forces of reality in our contemporary world. It has now been established that the Islamic Republic of Iran has never been inclined to acquire nuclear weapons. Yet, it has been adamant that it will never give up its nuclear projects for peaceful ends. This has been buttressed by international institutions, US intelligence reports as well as the international community. The US approach to this conflict has proved to be wrong; it lacks in both legality and efficacy. In terms of legality, it blatantly contravenes international law, US municipal law and the British common law. As for efficacy, the imposed sanctions against Iran have proved to be ineffective. The present article elaborates on the legality of nuclear diplomacy under duress in such laws.

Keywords: nuclear diplomacy; duress; hegemony; legality; international law; US municipal law; British common law; arms control regimes; UK; United Kingdom; USA; United States; Iran.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNGEE.2009.026519

International Journal of Nuclear Governance, Economy and Ecology, 2009 Vol.2 No.3, pp.304 - 308

Published online: 18 Jun 2009 *

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