America’s
Role in Ending Iran’s Nuclear Program
By:
Michael Krasna
Michael Singh, the managing director of
the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, published an op-ed in The
Wall Street Journal on November 3, 2014 titled “How the U.S., Not Iran, Is
Making Concessions.” In his article, Singh argues that in recent days, America
has weakened its stance in its relationship with the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Singh asserts that “The central aim of American policy toward Iran in recent
years had been to persuade Tehran to make a strategic shift: away from a
strategy of projecting power and deterring adversaries through asymmetric
means, and toward one that would adhere to international norms and reinforce
regional peace and stability.”
However, Iran has seemingly done nothing to
cause this shift in their policy. Singh points to a number of examples in which
Iran has continued its state sponsorship of terror groups as well as its strong
support of President Bashar al-Assad in Syria.
Both actions further exhibit Iran’s outward irreverence for US policy.
Singh concludes his article by stating, “What has changed is not Iran’s
strategy but the American response. We are choosing to overlook, rather than
counter, long-standing Iranian policies.”
With the deadline for
a P5+1 deal with Iran over its nuclear program coming in just a few weeks on
November 24, 2014, America’s once strong position on Iran seems to be
weakening. This is incredibly troubling as these negotiations have the
potential of putting an end to Iran’s dangerous nuclear program once and for
all. I believe that if the US continues to “overlook, rather than counter,
long-standing Iranian policies,” Iran will be able to walk away from these
negotiations with a nuclear deal that benefits them and gives them the ability
to quickly assemble a nuclear weapon. America is in the position to change the
course of history by striking a deal with Iran that would fully dismantle its
nuclear breakout capability. My hope is that the US realizes its important role
and does not make costly concessions that would provide Iran with the
capability of developing a nuclear weapon in the future.
Singh’s article: http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2014/11/03/how-the-u-s-not-iran-is-making-concessions/
My impression is that Iran has made substantial concessions over its nuclear programme, and though the lack of a binding agreement is troubling, the parties continue to negotiate which seems positive to me. As far as terrorism and Assad goes, well - the regional landscape has changed dramatically over the last 3 years. Do you think this may account for a softening of the US stance towards Iran?
ReplyDeleteif you were Iran what would you require from the US in order to drop the whole thing? personally I would say it is only happening if the US terminates it Nuclear Weapon program as well.
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