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Iran Is Escalating Its Nuclear Program. Biden Should Not Rush to Respond
(NPR) Henry Rome - Iran appears intent on generating a nuclear crisis early in Joe Biden's presidency, but Biden should not play into Iran's pattern of nuclear threats combined with artificial deadlines. Biden and his team will have time - and economic leverage - on their side. The incoming administration should take advantage of its strong position to diligently pursue its goal of strengthening and lengthening nuclear restrictions and should resist the pressure to act hastily. Combined with Iran's endemic corruption and the coronavirus pandemic, U.S. sanctions have cratered the Iranian economy, driven up inflation and eroded the purchasing power of average Iranians. The U.S. measures have effectively cut off Iran from the international financial system. Oil exports, Iran's most important source of hard currency, remain largely crippled by U.S. sanctions. Tehran will try to prevent Biden from taking advantage of this leverage by creating an atmosphere of imminence and crisis. The writer is senior analyst for Iran and Israel at Eurasia Group.