As the United States and other countries ratchet up sanctions on Iran, the recent National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) confirms that Iran is susceptible to economic sanctions and that its policies are guided by a cost-benefit calculus. The NIE further affirms that Iran’s uranium enrichment program—the key process needed to produce the fuel for nuclear weapons—is continuing, thus highlighting the need for further economic penalties on the country. Increasingly tough sanctions are already causing companies to reconsider doing business with Iran and spurring growing discontent within the country over the regime’s radical policies.

The International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) latest report on Iran’s nuclear program similarly details Tehran’s continued refusal to implement the U.N. Security Council requirement that it suspend uranium enrichment. The IAEA Board of Governors’ latest report says that Iran is now operating close to 3,000 centrifuges at its nuclear facility in Natanz, a tenfold increase over last year. In this context, the need for tougher economic sanctions against Iran remains greater than ever.