Iran: Circumvention of Sanctions, Latin American Ties and Argentina as its Next Supplier of Enriched Uranium

This thesis is intended to provide support for the idea that if Iran seeks to build a nuclear bomb, Argentina could potentially be its next supplier of enriched uranium. Iran's history of deception and its refusal to verify the civilian nature of its nuclear program have led to numerous sanctions placed on the Regime since the 1970s. Its ability to circumvent sanctions and develop clandestine facilities under the nose of the international community raise questions about the integrity of its government. Additionally, its anti-West and anti-Israel rhetoric make the potential for a nuclear bomb even more frightening. Iran, however, has little indigenous uranium reserves. In 2014, Argentina announced its decision to restart the enrichment of uranium. Latin America as a whole and Argentina in particular have developed close diplomatic and trade ties to Iran, at times highly suspicious in nature. Through open source research I provide a historic, diplomatic and cultural analysis in support of my hypothesis that if Iran seeks to build a nuclear bomb, Argentina may be its next supplier of enriched uranium.