IRAN, LE CHOIX DES ARMES

Will Iran gain the upper hand in the showdown with the Western powers by acquiring nuclear weapons?
This question is crucial not only because of the declarations of president Ahmaninejad and the concept of an anti-Western crusade, but also because it marks the emergence of a new world order where the possession of nuclear weapons becomes the rule rather than the exception.
The book starts with a survey of the situation:
- The origins and motivation for Iran's decision
- The current state of Iran's ballistic and nuclear program
- The influence and weight of the various external actors and their interests: The USA, Israel, China, Russia, India, Europe
- Iran's internal situation and power struggles
- The strategic context of the region; Iran's Arabic neighbors
The book further examines possible scenarios: cooperation, coercion or confrontation - and in this latter case, what kind of confrontation, and with what consequences?
The book will be written as events unfold and will be published at the time when the United Nation meets to discuss the Iranian question.

François Heisbourg is head of the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London and of the Centre politique de sécurité in Geneva. He is also special advisor to the Fondation pour la recherche stratégique in Paris. His knowledge of geopolitical questions and issues of terrorism make him one of the most established experts in this field. He recently published L'Épaisseur du monde (Stock, 2007).