Just when you thought lunacy had limits, a Biden deal with Iran – allowing eventual nuclear weapons (imagining development slowing), US taxpayer money, and no sanctions – appears near. How could this happen? What would this mean? How do we stop it?
The deal is back on the table because Biden – with his entourage of naïve and pro-Iran advocates – have redoubled efforts to get something like their prior deal, an unenforceable go-slow deal that promised an eventual nuclear Iran. Obama-Biden gave them hundreds of millions of dollars, which were used by Iran’s brutal regime to repress their own people, finance terror, their military, and develop the bomb.
Today, indulging trust like children in criminals, Biden sees a change to declare – much like Neville Chamberlain did when finishing a deal with Nazi Germany – that he has found “peace in our time” with Iran. The idea is worse than folly; it is dangerously irresponsible.
All should ask, how can such deal be under discussion – especially now? How does a peace-minded world – one sanctioning Russia for misuse of conventional weapons – ironically pay money to terrorist, nuclear-fixated Iran, on false pretenses, knowing no sanctions means nukes and more terror?
It makes no sense, except to an amoral, politically naïve, objectively dim American leader – one who imagines (having reluctantly cut off oil imports from Russian and domestic energy production) he can get oil from Iran, if only he lifts sanctions on them. See, e.g., Russia backs down on demands in Iran nuclear deal talks, making revival of 2015 pact imminent.
This strategy, which even Russia sees gain in – so dropped objections to the US-Iran deal – is the epitome of wrong-headedness. See, e.g., Joe Biden’s Iran plan is a total disaster.
Why? Because Iran is sprinting for a nuclear weapon, is Russia’s and China’s sworn ally, the world’s leading state-sponsor of terrorism, is killing and persecuting more people than Russia in Ukraine. The idea is lunacy.
Worse, by lifting sanctions reimposed by the former Administration on Iran, the gloves are likely to come off across the Middle East. Other countries, especially Sunni countries like Saudi, will seek nuclear weapons, and may decide to ally with China, not the United States. That would be unfortunate.
Signs are, many are retreating from confidence in the United States under presidents back to Reagan, and are now seeking new deals with China, while also positioning themselves to live the likelihood of a nuclear war, created by Biden’s indulgence of Russia and now Iran. This is ominous. See, e.g., Why it matters if Saudi Arabia sells oil in Chinese yuan instead of US dollars; Sasse: Saudi oil deal with China is ‘big, bad thing,’ that could be sign of global shift away from US.
So, what is the “state of play” right now, what would it mean, and how can we stop it? The state of play is that Russia is now willing to let the deal go, seeing it weaken the West, so gave Biden the green light, and has withdrawn objections. Biden’s people signal they may get something out of Vienna negotiations with within days.
Biden would claim a victory in the deal and victory in new oil from Iran, deflecting dangers created by the deal, new money from US taxpayers (directly and indirectly) for Iran, and failure to restart US energy production. He would deflect Russia’s support for the deal and financing Iranian terrorism.
The overall impact on the US gas and fuel prices would be minimal since the OPEC price will remain high, and big hit at pump is created by halting US energy production from critical venues, fracking, drilling, refining, import by pipeline to Canada, and export to Europe. See, e.g., Tightening oil market eyes Iran nuclear talks, as deal could be near.
Net-net, the outcome of a new “nuclear deal” with Iran would hit the US and allied security in major ways, re-empowering and re-financing the Iranian nuclear program, terror machine, and economy – while helping Russia, showing more weakness and naivete, and doing nothing to help Americans.
What can be done to stop it? With effort, several things. First, if popular uproar emerges – at a time when bipartisan anti-Putin sentiment runs strong – a bipartisan congressional stop could be pushed. Second, US national security and energy experts should step up to make clear this is a no-go. Third, grassroots political actors should make clear – if this happens, it will affect 2022 and 2024.
In the end, the Biden Administration personifies weak leadership, a poor understanding of strategic foreign policy, and a stunning misunderstanding of multi-step national security protection. That said, the American people are strong, smart, and can be powerful when they speak. Now is the time.