Manufactured Crisis: The Untold Story of the Iran Nuclear Scare

Gareth Porter's "Manufactured Crisis," investigates the true history of Iran's nuclear program, contending that the perceived "crisis" was intentionally fabricated by the U.S., Israel, and European powers. The author, Gareth Porter, analyzes how misleading narratives and intelligence were used to pressure Iran, often through the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), to abandon its nuclear aspirations, despite Iran's consistent claims of peaceful intent and its right to nuclear technology under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). The text reveals U.S. and Israeli efforts to deny Iran nuclear technology, even when such denial violated international agreements, ultimately pushing Iran toward developing its own enrichment capabilities. It scrutinizes the authenticity and origins of intelligence documents suggesting an Iranian nuclear weapons program, highlighting inconsistencies and the likelihood of their being supplied by Iranian opposition groups with Israeli ties. Furthermore, the book describes how U.S. intelligence agencies, particularly the CIA's Nonproliferation Center (NPC) and Weapons Intelligence, Nonproliferation, and Arms Control Center (WINPAC), were susceptible to political pressure and confirmation bias in their assessments of Iran's nuclear intentions, leading to exaggerated threats. Finally, it explores the ongoing political maneuvering and psychological operations by Israel and the U.S. to maintain pressure on Iran, including the use of cyberwarfare and threats of military action, despite their own intelligence assessments often contradicting the public rhetoric.