Weapons Inspections in Iran Shadowed by Past Mistakes in Iraq

The landmark agreement with Iran promises weapons inspectors broad access to the country’s nuclear program, but the Islamic Republic’s track record and the history of similar efforts in Iraq cast a shadow over the deal.

The lessons of experience are clear: As in Saddam Hussein’s Iraq, inspections in Iran will succeed only if the U.S. and its partners show they are willing to punish violations, according to analysts and former inspectors.