AEI report to examine how to contain a nuclear-armed Iran

On Tuesday morning, The American Enterprise Institute will unveil a new report on how the U.S. and its allies could contain Iran if it fields a nuclear weapon.

“Ongoing efforts to stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons have failed, and the prospect of a nuclear-armed Iran is fast approaching reality,” states an AEI preview of the study. “Yet the United States and its allies have not formulated a policy to deal with such a threat.”

The report will examine, according to the preview, such tricky questions as:

* "Many experts advocate a containment and deterrence strategy, but will it work?

* "What are the real diplomatic, strategic and military costs and challenges?"

Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) will deliver remarks at a late-morning press briefing on the new study.

The Senate last week approved an amendment to a Pentagon policy bill pushed by Kirk and Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) that would prohibit any U.S. financial entity from engaging in transactions with any foreign government, central bank or other financial firm that does business with the Central Bank of Iran.

The Obama administration opposes the measure, saying it would cause adverse collateral damage, including dissuading some nations from helping efforts to further isolate Tehran and convince it to drop the nuclear arms program.

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