(Israel Hayom) Brig.-Gen. (res.) Yossi Kuperwasser - The new nuclear agreement is dangerous because it paves the way for Iran - in nine years - to secure the ability to produce a large arsenal of nuclear weapons without fear, and without the prospect of crippling economic sanctions. The agreement does not guarantee IAEA supervision anywhere and anytime; it has sunset clauses; it fails to deal with ballistic missiles - the means by which nuclear bombs are launched; and the restrictions it details are to be gradually lifted. Reviving the nuclear deal at this time takes place after Iran has already marked significant achievements in the field of enrichment technology and in its weapons program. Moreover, a significant portion of the restrictions placed on Iran are slated be removed in early 2024 and early 2026. Worse - all of this is taking place when it is clear that any hope for a change in Iran's subversive policies is baseless; and all while Iran still refuses to provide details on four facilities exposed in the nuclear archives by Israel. It is clear that the tens of billions of dollars that will be made available to Iran will be used to continue arming Iran's proxies and paying for Tehran's efforts to expand its influence in the region - as well as increase its ability to threaten Israel. The U.S. is aware of all these dangers and yet it is determined to advance the agreement, simply to delay the end and avoid the need for a confrontation with Iran. The U.S. is Israel's most important ally. While efforts should be made to prevent negative repercussions on the Abraham Accords and to prepare for independently taking action to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear state, such an undertaking will be much more difficult without American support. The writer, who headed the Research and Assessment Division of IDF Military Intelligence, is a Senior Project Director at the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs.
2022-02-21 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive