First order of business: Permanently neutralize Iran’s nuclear threat, but for long-term stability do not stop with that

A decisive and uncompromising approach is therefore necessary to dismantle both Iran’s nuclear program entirely and its Islamist regime.

By Dr. Majid Rafizadeh, Gatestone Institute

The highest priority in addressing the upheavals in the Middle East is to eliminate — completely — Iran’s nuclear threat.

Iran is reportedly close to being a nuclear-armed state. Such a development would have catastrophic consequences for the region as well as for global stability.

Acquiring nuclear weapons would embolden Iran’s regime, re-strengthen its proxies, and enable it to resume escalating its terror campaigns across the region.

Once Iran crosses the nuclear threshold, it will become virtually impossible to contain or neutralize its aggression – presumably the reason the regime is so eager to have nuclear weapons in the first place.

The risk of retaliation by nuclear strikes would deter even the most powerful nations from military intervention. An Iran with nuclear weapons would fundamentally alter the balance of power in the Middle East and beyond.

This scenario underscores the urgent need to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program as soon as possible, but it would be a shame to stop there.

Tehran’s leadership has been transparent in its ambition to use an “Islam bomb” to “export the revolution;” even its own officials have openly acknowledged this goal. Allowing Iran to succeed also encourage other rogue states to develop nuclear weapons.

The idea of negotiating a “deal” to limit, control or “verify” Iran’s nuclear activities has proven to be both ineffective and dangerous. History has shown that the Iranian regime is not a trustworthy partner in diplomacy.

Past agreements, including the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), were riddled with loopholes that Tehran exploited to continue advancing its nuclear weapons ambitions under the guise of compliance.

Iran has repeatedly violated international agreements and deceived global watchdogs. It seems clear that any new deal would likely meet the same fate. Trusting such a regime to honor its commitments is like trusting the cat to guard the cream.

The regime’s primary goal is, first, to stay in power; second, to acquire nuclear weapons. No amount of diplomatic engagement will deter it from pursuing these objectives.

Any agreement would merely buy more time for Iran to refine its nuclear technologies while easing international pressure.

The regime’s strategy is to outlast all sanctions and inspections, while continuing its covert nuclear activities, repressing it citizens, and planning its future expansion.

The international community would do the world a favor by stopping Iran from reaching both goals. If not, there will be no chance of durable stability in the Middle East. It is as simple as that.

A decisive and uncompromising approach is therefore necessary to dismantle both Iran’s nuclear program entirely and its Islamist regime.

Sanctioning Iran’s financial resources once again can significantly hinder Iran’s ability to develop nuclear weapons and fund its proxies and militias.

Curbing Iran could include cutting off its access to global financial systems, authorizing secondary sanctions on countries that decide doing business with Iran is worth the downside, freezing assets, and imposing penalties on entities that facilitate Iran’s nuclear activities.

But those requirements alone will not be enough to ensure a durable peace in the region. For that important goal, the US and the West will need to compel Iran’s rulers to understand that their lives will be more enjoyable elsewhere.

Failing to act decisively against Iran’s nuclear program can have only catastrophic consequences. The world, unfortunately, cannot allow the Iranian regime to achieve either its nuclear or theocratic aims.

It is not just a matter of regional security, it is a global imperative. Only by neutralizing the entire Iranian threat will the world be able to work toward a future of stability, prosperity and peace.

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