Bad Deal With Iran
Even as Iran assists the Russian invasion of Ukraine, develops its nuclear weapons capability, moves into Latin America, and oppresses its own people, the Biden Administration is vigorously seeking to loosen sanctions on the terrorist nation. Secret talks are currently underway.
Writing for National Review, the American Enterprise Institute’s Mathew Contineti reports that “President Biden is on the verge of betraying Congress and the American people by rewarding the Islamic Republic of Iran for its various misdeeds. According to news reports, Biden is prepared to authorize billions of dollars in payments to Iran in exchange for the release of U.S. prisoners, a halt to militia attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria, cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, a moratorium on ballistic-missile sales to Russia, and a freeze on uranium enrichment at 60 percent (90 percent enriched uranium is considered weapons-grade).”
Some have labelled the White Houses’ attempt as a “freeze for a freeze.”
Biden’s move would, according to a Gatestone Institute study, “pump $17 billion dollars into the Iranian regime’s treasury. These benefits will not only enable the mullahs’ to finalize their nuclear weapons program, but also to send more arms to Russia to attack Ukraine, as well as to further enable the regime’s ruthless expansion throughout the Middle East — in Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Lebanon and the terrorist groups in the Gaza Strip — and throughout Latin America.”
The Foundation for Defense of Democracy stresses “The agreement will legitimize all previous Iranian violations and allow Iran to retain the assets obtained through the ongoing violation of all agreements and treaties it has signed while injecting billions of dollars to revitalize the economy. It will also enable Quds Force’s continued support of terrorism in the Middle East and around the world…Iran will also secretly continue to develop weaponization capabilities, which is what really separates it from having nuclear capacity, while its true status continues to be largely hidden.”
As did President Obama in his deeply flawed and ultimately unsuccessful Iran nuclear agreement during his Administration, Biden will seek to evade the U.S. Senate’s Constitutional role in foreign treaties by avoid calling what is actually a treaty a “deal.”
From what little is known of the secretive talks, the “deal” would not have any means of enforcement, relying instead on the “goodwill” of the Islamic State in return for large amounts of U.S. cash, an absurd concept similar to that used by Obama, who sent pallet loads of cash. According to a contemporaneous 2016 CNN report “President Barack Obama approved the $400 million transfer, which he had announced in January as part of the Iran nuclear deal. The money was flown into Iran on wooden pallets stacked with Swiss francs, euros and other currencies.”
Nothing appears to be said in Biden’s “deal” about Iran’s rapid encroachment into the western hemisphere. Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi has travelled to Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, just as little discussion has taken place about Tehran’s pledge to destroy the United States and Israel.
Senator Tom Cotton) criticized Biden’s attempt, which would eventually release $2.7 billion payments to Iran, a payment previously denied by U.S. sanctions. The Arkansas Republican said “President Biden’s developing agreement with the Islamic Republic of Iran is nothing short of abject appeasement. He’s giving away irreversible concessions in exchange for easily reversible promises. The ayatollahs will use Biden’s billions to inch closer to the bomb, fortify their bunkers, and strengthen their military. Appeasement has never and will never work—the president is making a terrible mistake.”
Much of the U.S. position in the Middle East has unraveled during the Biden Administration. The potential deal would further undermine Washington’s position in the region.
Frank Vernuccio serves as editor-in-chief of the New York Analysis of Policy and Government
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