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As the U.S. Relaxed Pressure, Iran Took Advantage
(Wall Street Journal) Mark Dubowitz and Matthew Kroenig - Critics argue that Iran's nuclear expansion occurred because the U.S. withdrew from the 2015 nuclear agreement. The U.S. withdrew from the agreement in May 2018. While Tehran took preliminary steps to expand its nuclear program in May 2019, the most significant steps took place after the U.S. presidential election in November 2020. These include enriching uranium first to 20% purity and then to 60% (a stone's throw from weapons-grade), the production of uranium metal for nuclear warheads, the operation of more advanced centrifuges, and massively increasing stockpiles of enriched uranium. These nuclear moves took place after it was clear to Iran that the U.S. was abandoning its "maximum pressure" campaign by easing sanctions enforcement and leaving military options off the table, thereby strengthening Iran's economy and negotiating position. Mark Dubowitz is chief executive of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies. Matthew Kroenig is a professor of government at Georgetown University and a former senior policy adviser at the Pentagon (2017-21).