The latest negotiated agreement between Iran and the United States has certainly been applauded by many seeking peace with Iran. There are several problems with this commentary which must be addressed to provide a clear picture of the Iranian nuclear issue.  While a strong diplomatic solution is preferable to other actions, it must be a solution that guarantee’s the security of both America and our allies in the Middle East.  The current deal does not insure this goal.  Some of the stipulations of the current negotiations are the conversion of Iran’s stockpiles of enriched uranium and more thorough inspections by the IAEA.  Iran’s conversion of 20% enriched uranium to uranium dioxide is a step back from developing a nuclear weapon, but according to the Federation of American Scientists, this process is easily reversible.  Iran is also only temporarily halting enrichment above the 5% level and given their past actions, will not give up their desire for enrichment.  Also, Iran’s past cooperation with IAEA inspectors leaves little doubt that they will be open and cooperative with the inspectors.

A recent editorial in my hometown newspaper, the Observer-Reporter describes the “willingness of Iran’s recently elected President Hassan Rouhani to engage constructively with the United States”. Yet, it is important to note that we have heard this same tune from Iran before.  In 2003, after the discovery of Iran’s nuclear facilities in Natanz, Iran negotiated by temporarily halting enrichment in exchange for no additional sanctions.  However, after only two years Iran resumed enrichment.  Iran’s head nuclear negotiator declared afterwards that the diplomacy was merely a tactic to delay the sanctions while giving Iran’s nuclear program more time to develop, an objective Iran accomplished during this period.  For those unfamiliar with these negotiations, it was none other than Rouhani, the media labeled moderate, who according to the editorial will “engage constructively with the United States”, who played this game of deceit with the United States.  Have we learned nothing from Rouhani’s actions ten years ago?  This is the same game and Iran is once again attempting to lull America to sleep while it acquires a nuclear ace.