Your leader (20 February) states: “To date, Iran has not broken the provisions of the NPT.” In reality, the IAEA declared Iran to be non-compliant in 2005. Iran’s failure to disclose its enrichment facility at Natanz and the Arak heavy water reactor were only the most blatant of many breaches. Iran was caught again in 2009, when the Fordow enrichment facility was uncovered. In November 2011, the IAEA, a cautious multilateral body not given to alarmism, spelt out in detail the structure of Iran’s weapons programme.

Yes, we should use diplomatic pressure to seek a negotiated solution. But we must approach negotiations with eyes open to what Iran is really doing, to its capacity for deceit, to the urgency of the situation, and to the consequences of failure. Should Iran not be stopped, it will in all likelihood acquire nuclear arms, or the capacity to construct them at will. Given that, we need to keep all options on the table, and send a clear message of resolve.

This letter was in response to the Guardian Editorial, Iran: stumbling into war.

Dr. Toby Greene is Head of research and analysis at Bicom