Description
This paper examines the threat perception within UK foreign and security policy in relation to Iran’s nuclear program from 2002 to 2013, a period marked by heightened international tensions and evolving global security dynamics. Focusing on the British response, the study aims to provide a nuanced understanding of how the UK perceived and addressed Iran’s nuclear ambitions. By analyzing key government documents—such as Strategic Defence Reviews, Defence White Papers, and National Security Strategies—the paper identifies shifts in British foreign policy priorities and evaluates how these priorities informed the UK’s role in addressing Iran’s nuclear activities.
The research is structured around three primary questions: (1) How do British officials narrate the roles of other involved actors in the Iranian nuclear issue? (2) How does the UK perceive its own role on the global stage concerning Iran’s nuclear program? (3) What specific policies and actions does the UK government implement, as reflected in parliamentary debates and government documents? To answer these questions, this study conducts a qualitative content analysis of UK government publications and Hansard records of parliamentary debates. With 63 debates in the House of Commons alone, these records offer a comprehensive look at official perspectives on Iran’s nuclear program as a perceived threat to international peace and security.
The paper hypothesizes that the UK maintained a consistent stance towards Iran’s nuclear ambitions, rooted in a sustained perception of threat. By comparing the content of government documents with parliamentary discourse, the analysis seeks to validate this hypothesis, offering insight into the policy coherence and strategic priorities underlying the UK’s approach. Ultimately, the study aims to enhance understanding of British foreign policy mechanisms and their response to complex international security challenges, providing broader implications for the study of threat perception and role conception in UK foreign policy.
