We performed a study of the single ionization of iodine, I 2 over a range of wavelengths. Single ionization of I 2 is unexpectedly found to have a contribution from inner molecular orbitals involving the 5s electrons. The I + I + dissociation channel was recorded through velocity map imaging and the kinetic energy release of each channel was determined with 2D fitting of the images. Most of the measured kinetic energy data were inconsistent with ionization to the X, A, and B states of I + 2 , implying ionization from deeper orbitals. A pump-probe Fourier transform technique was used to look for modulation at the X and A state vibrational frequencies, to see if they were intermediate states in a two step process. X and A state modulation was only seen for kinetic energy releases below 0.2 eV consistent with dissociation through the B state. From these results and intensity, polarization, and wavelength dependent experiments we found no evidence of bond softening, electron rescattering or photon mediation through the X or A states to higher energy single ionization channels.