Trump Was Right to Terminate the Iran Deal - The National Interest

Peter Brookes
Highly controversial? Yes. But President Trump’s decision to withdraw from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)—also known as the Iran nuclear deal—was totally justifiable.

The deal was a well-intentioned effort by the Obama administration to limit Iran’s nuclear program—including its nuclear weapons program. But from the beginning, there were a number of reasonable concerns about the JCPOA.

How About That Sunset?
The fact is that Tehran didn’t sign up to limit its nuclear-power (or weapons) program forever, but rather for just a period before being unbridled from the JCPOA.  The JCPOA essentially kicks the can down the road to the next president after Trump.

Iran needs to sign up to limiting its nuclear activities in perpetuity.

Going Ballistic
Despite early calls for it to do so, the JCPOA doesn’t fully address Iran’s ballistic-missile program. Ballistic missiles are a common delivery system for weapons of mass destruction, especially nuclear weapons.

Since Iran lacks a highly capable global—or regional—Navy or Air Force, Tehran would have to rely on its ballistic-missile arsenal to deliver nuclear weapons against any of its self-perceived enemies, including the United States.

The concerns over Iran’s missile program is evident in UN Security Council Resolutions 1929 and 2231, which attempt to limit Iran’s activities involving nuclear-capable ballistic missiles. Tehran has been accused of violating both resolutions.

Restrictions on ballistic missiles must be part of any new, comprehensive agreement.

Hide-and-Seek
Another troubling aspect of the JCPOA is that the United Nations’ International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors aren’t allowed to check Iranian military sites.  This is beyond comprehension.

Since nations would likely—even probably—develop nuclear weapons within the context of a military program, it is only reasonable to expect that inspectors would be able to visit military sites where illicit nuclear activities may be taking place.

Iran is supporting the ruthless regime in Syria in the bloody civil war there. Tehran is also aiding the Houthis rebels in Yemen, allowing them to indiscriminately rain missiles down on Saudi Arabia.

Iran, of course, is an active state sponsor of terrorism, supporting the likes of Hezbollah and Hamas, according to the U.S. government.  In Afghanistan, it’s supporting some elements of the Taliban, continuing to destabilize the long, war-torn country. - Read More

Trump Was Right to Terminate the Iran Deal

The National Interest

Read the Full Transcript of Trump's Speech on the Iran Nuclear Deal ...