Ontological Security and Iran’s Nuclear Problem ‎

The controversial Iranian Nuclear Program (INP) has attracted many eyes and thoughts for more than a decade. While much ink has been spilled on the evolution and impact of the INP on the international security and the Middle-Eastern politics, there has been a theoretical void in the explanation of its major driving force(s). Such an unfortunate poverty is no more obvious than in an analysis of the relation between Iran’s specific narrative of security and the INP. From this perspective, the present study is an attempt to explain major forces shaping Iranian leaders’ views towards national security and the INP. I will accomplish this mission by highlighting the interconnection of the INP and Iranian state identity as well as the priority of ‘Ontological’ security over ‘Physical’ security for Iranian leaders. In following, the paper touches central, yet ignored, concepts of ‘Shame’, ‘Face’, and ‘Reputation’ to illustrate motives behind the INP. Lastly, it traces the impact of ‘Master Frame of Trust’ on the trajectory of the INP.