Iran is determined to acquire nuclear weapons. Iran has resisted all diplomatic pressures to freeze its nuclear program and seems intent on producing highly-enriched uranium, which constitutes the critical stage in building a nuclear bomb. The relative success of Hezbollah – one of Teheran's proxies - to withstand the pressure of the Israeli army this summer, strengthened Iran's position in the Middle East. Moreover, the lack of an effective international response to the North Korean nuclear test of October 2006 provided Iran with additional confidence that its nuclear program cannot be interrupted. This brief sketches the nature of the Iranian threat, and the available options for halting that country’s nuclear program.