|
Trending Topics
|
Israel's New Focus on the Iran Nuclear Deal
(Guardian-UK) Michael Herzog - Iranian enrichment has been accepted as part of the endgame; the clock in the uranium and plutonium tracks continues to tick, albeit at a slower pace. While putting the brakes on Iran's nuclear program is better than allowing it to accelerate, Tehran is far too close to a critical breakout capacity for this to be an acceptable situation in the long term. Israel's sight is therefore fixed on the endgame. For Israel, the endgame must deny Iran the capacity to swiftly break out a bomb before it can be stopped. Yet senior Israeli officials ask: if the pressure of sanctions could not get Iran to tackle the endgame now, why would relaxed sanctions produce the desired result in six months? Israel wants its U.S. and European allies to define and stick to clear goals, to enforce remaining sanctions, and to clarify to Iran the consequences of non-compliance with the interim deal or averting a reasonable comprehensive deal. Israel could encourage additional sanctions in the U.S. Congress conditional on Iran's behavior, while also making clear that its own military option is on the table. Faced with possible additional sanctions and a credible military option, Iran is more likely to concede. Brig.-Gen. (res.) Michael Herzog served as head of the Strategic Planning Division of the IDF and worked with four ministers of defense as senior military aide and advisor, and chief of staff.