"The hard-line elements in the regime, those now more fully in control than at any time since the early 1989's, have always opposed negotiations witht he international community and have always been the most virulent supporters of the Iranian nuclear program. There has always been reason to suspect that many of them desire an arsenal itlself, and not merely the theoretical capability to build one. With the voices of restraint silenced, it seems much less likely that those in control in Tehran will agree to negotiate the dismantling of that program, or even ways of limiting it."
Kenneth Pollack, "Persian Paradoxes: the Reflections on the Saban Center-CENTCOM Conference," July 14-15, 2009.
