IRAN'S NUCLEAR OPTION: Tehran's Quest for the Atom Bomb [Hardcover]

Al Venter (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2005

At a time when international terrorism is the focal point of our concerns, a far more pressing threat has arisen to the balance of power in the world and ultimately to the security of our country. Since the Islamic Republic of Iran admitted, just two years ago, that it was secretly producing highly enriched, weapons-grade uranium, leading nations have struggled to react in an appropriate manner. In this book, the U.S. public is able to learn, in full detail and for the first time, exactly what the Europeans and UN have been trying to forestall.

In Iran we see a country, located at the center of the Middle East, which could very shortly have the ability to strike its immediate neighbors and nations farther away with nuclear weapons. With the innate size to dominate its region, Iran is also a country with an avowed mission to export it's theocratic principles, and a nation which has, over the past 25 years, been a notorious supporter of terrorist organizations. Its parallel development of atomic bombs comprises the greatest threat that we have seen in the new millennium.

In Iran's Nuclear Option, defense expert Al J. Venter details the extent to which Iran's weapons program has developed, and the clandestine manner in which its nuclear technology has been acquired. He demonstrates how Tehran has violated the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and details the involvement of several countries who have been shown by the IAEA to have trafficked in illegal nuclear materials. He proves, for the first time, a direct link between the now-defunct South African apartheid regime's nuclear program and Tehran's current nuclear ambitions.

Venter digs deep into ancillary subjects, such as Iran's fervor on behalf of Shiite Islam, its missile program-developed alongside its nuclear one-and the role of the Pasdaran (Revolutionary Guards), whose tentacles have spread throughout the Middle East and increasingly further afield. While noting Tehran's support of terrorist groups such as Hizbollah, Venter follows closely how the Persian homeland itself has progressed toward a strategic nuclear capability that would make recent terrorist attacks look obsolete.

Iran's Nuclear Option is essential reading for anyone with an interest in global security and the perilous volatility of the Middle East. It also comprises an indicator for America's own options, should it be willing to counter the threat while time remains, in favor of world peace rather than greater global instability.

REVIEWS

"the place to turn for technical details and footnoted references...offers the most systematic exposition to date about Iran's nuclear program and its role in world affairs..." Middle East Quarterly, Winter 2006

"...of great interest to anyone watching the current nuclear proliferation problem..."Parameters, Spring 2006

"...a chilling insight into the scope and sophistication of Iran's concerted, multi-decade quest for the atomic bomb... a sobering blow by blow account of how Tehran managed diplomatically to stall, mislead and confound the IAEA..."The National Interest 06/2005

"an outstanding survey of the threats the present Iranian regime poses to the world. One of this books great strengths is how carefully Venter documents Iran's efforts to obtain parts and personnel for weapons building....shows clearly and convincingly why stopping Iran's nuclear program is a cardinal interest not only for any particular state, but for humanity as a whole."Jerusalem Political Studies Review, Fall 2005

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Al Venter, the author of The Iraqi War Debrief: Why Saddam Hussein Was Toppled deals with Hizbollah, an Iranian surrogate terror group that has tentacles stretching well beyond the eastern Mediterranean and, by inference, with al-Qaeda. The question now facing observers in the West is how much more of this kind of nuclear proliferation has been secreted by Tehran's mullahs.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 460 pages
• Publisher: Casemate; 1St Edition edition (January 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932033335
• ISBN-13: 978-1932033335
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,629,376 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A truly important work, March 1, 2005

By 

J. G Scott (United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: IRAN'S NUCLEAR OPTION: Tehran's Quest for the Atom Bomb (Hardcover)

Mr. Venter has again capitalized upon his tremendous links within the military/industrial world to bring a truly frightening book to print. He has strung together multiple sources to attempt to capture the full story as we, outside of the ruling elite in Iran, know the state of affairs to be. This read is a great follow-up to "The Iraqi War Debrief" and should be in every free person's library.

The authors preface about "events" directly related to his writing of the book occurring in his native South Africa gets he reader rolling on this subject. Stephen Tanners foreword and the introduction by Mr. Venter summarize where his book is leading and lead the reader into the more in-depth coverage in the coming pages. The potential retaliation by Israel if struck by nukes from Iran is almost biblical in its connotations.

Part I deals with the background of the current Iranian government and gives enough detail of the brutal Iran-Iraq war to provide insight to why Iran is developing WMD. The links with religion and a drive to create an Islamic world, as viewed by Iran, tie in neatly to a program of frightening weapons and attempts at regional, if not world domination.

Part II opens the door on other nations that are helping the Iranians on their programs. The scenario presented for use of nuclear weapons in downtown Manhattan is scary - and unthinkable for any American president to allow to happen. This portion of the book also begins to explore other countries aid to Iran and the shadowy link between South Africa and Iran. If such countries as South Africa, Pakistan, and Israel can create nuclear weapons without knowledge of the IAEA where do we as the world go from here with "sanctions" and negotiations with any rouge nations? The set-up looks exactly like Iraq and how the international community was strung along by the UN in really facing up to the issue.

Part III links together the Iranian terror links from sources all through the world and ties up the packages presented in earlier sections with a global plan from the 1979 revolution. Frightening stuff from a western point of view. It finishes with "What Next" - the informed reader can decide.
The Appendices are a good source of were Mr. Venter gets is information. Appendix B gives the reader a glimpse as why international inspections do not work - they make the community feel good because they think they are doing something - all that is really happening is a paper shuffle - no instant verification. Appendix E deals with South Africa's nuclear program, good bit of information in there (does anyone else remember "superbursts" of lightning in the Indian Ocean in the late 70's?).

Overall -

Excellent study, buy two copies; read one and send the other to your congressman or senator.

18 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ghost buster and protecting democracy, March 29, 2005

By 

Mohamed F. El-Hewie "Mohamed F. El-Hewie" (Hackensack, NJ USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: IRAN'S NUCLEAR OPTION: Tehran's Quest for the Atom Bomb (Hardcover)

After 9/11, the "nuclear mushroom" threat has become the magic tool in the hands of politicians to sell the policy of global intervention and preemptive wars to the American voters. Since nuclear military technology is exclusively limited to experts, it added extra burden on the voters to right-guess the real intention of the politicians.

In this book, the author attempts to "chase the ghost" of clandestine building of atomic bomb. He extrapolates hypothetical events and conclusions, sometimes makes up stories of his own, and sometimes slams inaccurate information without attempting to verify their accuracy.

The "Preface" outlines the author's fear of cataclysmic terrorism had a theocratic Iran turned nuclear. He bases his fear on the desire of Iran to establish an Islamic empire, destroy Israel, threaten the USA, and even knock down the entire global satellite system and bring civilization to the Stone Age.

The "Forward" by Stephen Tanner, singles out Iran as "the foremost gathering threat" because of the past glory of the Persian Empire, the Islamic fundamentalism, and the intrusive Israeli and Iraqi aggression that taught Iran a lesson in self-defense.

The "Introduction" discusses the proliferation of nuclear weapons. He claims that South Africa, Germany, Russia, China, and Pakistan helped Iran, each for different motives. Here, the author inserts much inaccurate information, as follows:

1- He cites flawed data that claim that the centrifuge spins at 60,000 rpm and that that exceeds 7 times the speed of sound. [The rotors only have 4 to 20 inches in diameter, which renders the maximal linear speed less that double the speed of sound].

2- The atomic attack on the global satellite system is far fetched. It claims that a nuclear detonation at altitude 100 to 200 miles by Shahab-3 armed missile could knock down unprotected low orbiting satellites. [Yet, at that altitude, the lack of atmosphere diminishes the shock of detonation and irradiation.]

3- The author proposes that the dirty bomb is an easier option since uranium enrichment is formidably expensive, bomb design is scientifically challenging, and bomb materials are scarcely available. This eliminates the possibility of nuclear threat by non-state enemy.

Chapter 1, "Iran: Its people and Government", describes the demography and resources of Iran. It cites the loss of 400,000 Iranian in the 8-year war with Iraq by 1987 and the cost of $350 billion.

Chapter 2, "The Iran-Iraq war, 1980-1988" admits to the severe effect of the Iraqi aggression and world's conspiracy against Iran in changing the people to protect themselves, their borders, and culture.

Chapter 3, "Iran's Shi'ites: Provocative and Driven", discusses the differences between Sunni and Shiites, the role of the twelve Imams. It confuses religious rituals with political leadership.

Chapter 4, "How Close Is Iran to Building an A-Bomb?" contends that Iran is developing a nuclear fuel cycle for two decades, obtained the blueprint of the gas centrifuge and the bomb from Pakistan, the yellow cake from China, the highly enriched uranium from the Russian black market. The author exaggerates by

1- Inserting inefficient process of AVLIS (atomic vapor laser isotope separation) as a mean of enriching uranium.

2- Extrapolates on Chinese technicians arrested in South Africa for working of exporting Zirconium forming factory to China on behalf of Iran. That story was entirely based on guessing and skepticism.

Chapter 5, "Doomsday Equation", discusses the scenario of detonating a nuclear device in Manhattan that might kill half a million people and cost a trillion dollar loss. It discusses the difficulties of building the bulky "gun-type" bomb by U-235 versus the "spherical implosion" bomb that requires Plutonium-239, and plenty of financial resources, logistics, and testing. The author points to the suspicious behavior of Iran of undeclared import of uranium, uranium metal production, natural uranium target production for irradiation test, missing of uranium hexafloride, building heavy-water factories, and developing long-range ballistic missiles.

Chapter 6, "Iran's Multi-stemmed Centrifuge Programs: An Overview", admits to the sketchy information about the extent of Iran's enrichment of uranium. It extrapolates that using batch recycling with fewer centrifuges could achieve enough yield to make Iran nuclear, in mid-2005. As the case with Iraq, the author cites the politically motivated National Council of Resistance of Iran that first reported the Natanz complex.

Chapter 7, "Nuclear Link-up: South Africa and Iran" documents a suspicious story attributed to the South African Nuclear Program director and the role of the author in bringing it to light despite its inaccuracy.

Chapter 8, "Case Study: South Africa's Atomic Bomb" is the best chapter in the book since the author is native to that country. It asks questions such as: why a nation seeks atomic weapon? how was it achieved in secrecy and with little resources? Or why did it not accomplish its intended goal despite developing six atomic bombs.

Chapter 9, "Building Guided Missiles to Hit Israel" discuss the Iranian missiles in view of South Africa's difficulties in miniaturizing its atomic devices its help to Israel to develop the Jericho missiles, and the North Korean, Russian, and Chinese contribution of Iran's missile defense.

Chapter 10, "Iran's History of Terror", discusses the support to Hizbollah, death of thousands of dissidents, and sending of pre-age youth to war.

Chapter 11, `Iran's Unconventional weapons" discusses the efforts made by Iran to possess weapons of mass destruction in spite of its backward socioeconomic status. It also raises suspicion regarding the nuclear ambition despite the availability of natural resources of gas and oil.

Chapter 12, " Pasdaran: The Islamic Republican Guards Corps" attempts to peek into the minds of the controlling faction of military strategy and planning in hope for detecting such pathological inclination of past monstrous dictators.

Chapter 13, "What's Next?" tries to answer the fixation of Iran on acquiring Nuclear weapon. It fairly describes the era when peaceful applications of nuclear explosives were thought feasible in excavation. It entirely omits the fact that the national welfare of any nation depends on its aspiration on advancing in technology despite others' mistrust and suspicion of its motives. What is good for the goose is good for the gander?

Mohamed F. El-Hewie,
Author of
"Essentials of Weightlifting and Strength Training".

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars US Middle-East Policy Must Read, February 27, 2005

By 

D. Peterson "bookemdanno1" (Apple Valley, MN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: IRAN'S NUCLEAR OPTION: Tehran's Quest for the Atom Bomb (Hardcover)

This book does a superb job of collecting the pertinent details of Iran's attempts to build the bomb as well as its quest for long range regional missiles and ICBM's. It also sums up the state of international attempts to learn the true state of Iran's capability and convince the mullahs to drop their nuclear aspirations. The author's Preface and the forward, by Military Historian Stephen Tanner, develop the reader's interest in the subject matter quite impressively. The book begins with a recent history of Iran over the last twenty some years and works its way through the details of not only the missile and atomic weapons programs, but the history of the Pasdaran, the Revolutionary Guards Corps, and it's involvement in a level of state sponsored terrorism that makes Al-Qaida look like a kindergarten.

Meanwhile, the usual atomic proliferation suspects, mainly Pakistan, China and North Korea, are joined by the Russian Republic and of all places, South Africa, in a ring of intrigue that shows how the US, UN and the EU have largely failed in their role of enforcing nuclear non-proliferation over the last decade or so. The implications now evident suggest a soon to be realized "Cold War" standoff at the very best, to the likely annihilation of significant numbers of the children of Abraham, Arab and Israeli, at the worst. The Soviets could always be relied upon to think along Judeo-Christian themes but the radical Islamic Theocracy will not be the same bargaining foe. The task facing the EU, with it's emphasis on buying off Iran's nuclear program in exchange for greater economic linkage to Europe, being played against the US in a "good cop - bad cop" negotiating ploy, surely feels great urgency in settling this issue quickly and peacefully if at all possible.

This book is a must read for anyone interested in understanding exactly what is at stake. Rich in detail but at times repetitive, it poses the question why Iran, with the world's second largest natural gas reserves and 7% of the world's oil reserves, would feel compelled to spend the money and risk the wrath of the world community to develop a suspect nuclear energy program.