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Stand Tough, Obama: How to Save the Iran Deal

(Politico) Dennis Ross - Our ability to monitor Iran's nuclear program is what will allow us to determine if the Iranians are living up to the deal. For me, the deal is acceptable - provided that the transparency is real, we have assured response mechanisms to any noncompliance that cannot be blocked, and we establish in advance what the consequences or price will be for every category of violation. I also believe that for the period during which the Iranians can build an industrial-size nuclear program, starting after 15 years, the Obama administration should establish now the principle that would bind its successors - namely, if the Iranians move to create a nuclear weapon, we will be prepared to use force to prevent it from doing so. I do not dismiss the statements that the supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, recently made that indicated he would not accept extensive transparency. Nor should others try to discount such statements as being just for domestic consumption. I recall that when I was negotiating with the Israelis and Palestinians, and Yasser Arafat made public statements denying basic Israeli needs and ruling out any compromise, many of my colleagues at the time said not to worry - "it was just for domestic consumption." But what Arafat was saying publicly was a good predictor of his behavior. If there is a lesson here, it is that we should stick to the terms of the framework understanding that the Iranians committed to and make clear that we will hold them to these commitments or there will be no deal. The answer will be provided at the table when we see what the Iranians try to argue about the meaning of the framework and whether they now try to adjust it. Khamenei and his negotiators need to see that we are not so anxious for a deal that we will adjust the meaning of the commitments in the framework. Amb. Dennis Ross is a long-time U.S. Mideast negotiator.
2015-04-22 00:00:00
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