The Role of the Analytical and Reflective Capacity in the Twin Processes of Technology Policy and Diplomacy: A Review of the Recent Development in the Process of Policy Making of Uranium Enrichment Technology in Iran

This paper aims to answer two basic questions pertaining to the interim accord between Iran and 5 + 1 countries First, can this accord be considered as a policy change in terms of Iranian nuclear technology policy?  .Second, if the policy has changed ,is the  change caused by a policy oriented learning or by an adjustment in response to  the environmental pressure? Relaying on the conceptualization of policy learning tripartite layers and analytical and reflective capacity of Susana Borras, the paper presents a theoretical model for policy making at the international level. Then, based on the methodology of data collection and sorting  “rational choice narrativism”, it analyses two different historical points of 2003 and 2010 in the negotiation process of Iran with the 5+1 powers. It maintains that interim accord is the result of a twin policy and diplomacy oriented learning backed by the technological, analytical and reflective capacity building. Finally, the paper addresses the first question and concludes that the accord is a realignment of the Iranian nuclear strategy with the positive and negative heuristics of nuclear policy paradigm.