Iran’s Nuclear Deal: Opportunities for Regional Cooperation

The Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs at AUB cordially invites you to a lecture:
Iran’s Nuclear Deal: Opportunities for Regional Cooperation in the Middle East by Dr. Ali Ahmad, Director of the Energy Policy and Security in the Middle East Program, Issam Fares Institute.
Moderated by Dr. Coralie Hindawi, Assistant Professor of Political Studies, AUB

Regardless of the debate on the suitability of nuclear power for the Middle East, it is possible that Iran’s neighbors would demand having similar indigenous uranium enrichment programs as a result of granting Iran this right under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action that was signed between Iran and world powers in July 2015. In addition to Iran’s own security concerns, this would pose a major security threat as such nuclear fuel cycle activities would offer states the implicit capability to develop nuclear weapons at will. One option that would offer some real security benefits is the establishment of a joint uranium enrichment facility in the Middle East. This talk examines the political and economic benefits of converting Iran’s uranium enrichment program into a multinational one while also discussing the underlying technical challenges.

Ali Ahmad is director of the Energy Policy and Security in the Middle East Program at AUB’s Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs, and an AUB faculty member. His research and teaching cover nuclear security, energy policy and economics. Prior to joining AUB, he was a research fellow at Princeton University’s Program on Science and Global Security where he worked on studying the prospects of nuclear energy in the Middle East and informing nuclear diplomacy with Iran. Beside Ahmad’s academic activities, he is also involved with government and investment advisory on energy issues. Ahmad holds a physics degree from the Lebanese University and a PhD from Cambridge University.

Location: Issam Fares Institute Conference Room (4th floor)
AUB (Green Oval)

This event will be in English