LOS ANGELE.–President Donald Trump, 79, told Iran it was not too late to cut a nuke deal to spare Iran more military strikes to retain its uranium enrichment program. Since Trump ended former President Barack Obama’s Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action [JCPOA] May 8, 2018, Iran had ramped up its enrichment program from 3.67% to 60% in direct defiance of the JCPOA but all U.N. sanctions by the International Atomic Energy Agency [IAEA]. Once Obama signed the nuke deal with 2015, Iran used it billions of dollars in unfrozen assets to wage proxy war with Yemen’s Houthi rebels to attack Saudi Arabia. Trump cancelled the JCPOA because the deal was unenforceable because of the lack of IAEA inspections. Trump wants Iran’s 85-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khemenei to know that it’s not too late to cut a another nuke deal to end Israel’s military onslaught.
Iran went to the U.N. Security Council today to get condemnation for Israel’s illegal military operations. Trump envoy Steve Witkoff had met with Iranian officials five times to hash out a new nuke deal that would place Iran’s nuclear enrichment program under the U.N.’s IAEA, leaving no doubt about how much it’s enriching uranium. Witkoff and Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi discussed the possibility of the U.S. buying Iran’s nuclear stockpile for use in the new generation of zero carbon nuclear power plants. Because Iran has no diplomatic relations with the U.S, all negotiations had of go through an Oman mediator. Trump warned Iran to not dither for too long because he couldn’t control what Netanyahu would do to reduce the nuclear threat on Israel. After yesterday’s bombing, Trump told Iranian officials that it wasn’t too late to cut a new deal.
Now in retaliation mode, the Ayatollah isn’t likely to continue nuke talks at least for now. Netanyahu went after more than Iran’s main nuclear enrichment hub at Natanz, near the historic Shiite city of Isfahan. Netanyahu’s air strikes attempted to neutralize Iran’s missile defense capability but was more targeted on destroying Iran’s stockpile of ballistic missiles. So when the Ayatollah realizes the damage done to Iran’s military, does he really think that more throwaway missile and drone attacks would make a dent in Israel? Netanyahu went after multiple targets, looking to neutralize Iran’s missile defense system but also its ballistic missile stockpile. Trump confirmed that U.S. ships in the Mediterranean were helping to intercept incoming Iranian missiles and drones. Trump acknowledges that Israel used U.S. weapons, letting the Ayatollah know that they were the world’s best weapons.
Iran says it holds the U.S. responsible for Israel’s current strikes on its nuclear enrichment program and military defense systems. When the State Department instructed personnel to voluntarily start evacuating U.S. embassies, there were signs that something big was about to happen. “But make no mistake. We do not want an all-out war in the Middle East,” said Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, considered a Democrat a 2028 front-runner. “It’s probably a good day for the world,” referring to slowing down Iran’s nuke program. Many nuke experts expressed concern that Iran’s 60% stockpile was good for at leat 9 A-bombs, though Iran denies that it’s in its plans. Launching hundreds of ballistic missiles in retaliation, Israel has already seen considerable damage to commercial buildings but has not reported any casualties. U.S. Defense Department has ramped up help to Israel.
Iran’s Ayatollah has limited resources despite all the bluster and threats against Israel. Netanyahu has already done so much damage to Iran’s defenses, the Ayatollah should reconsider its strategy going forward. One wrong move now could result in Israel destabilizing Iran’s mullah government. So, when it comes the the Ayatollah retalitating, he’s better consider what it would do to Iran’s defensive capability. Trump offered the Ayatollah a second chance at nuclear talks, something he isn’t likely to take up. Ayatollah watched his state-sponsored terrorist proxy groups dismantled by Israel over the last two years. Now he’s watching his own top leadership killed by Israeli air strikes. What does he think the next target is for Natanyahu as he prosecutes his war with Iran? So, when it comes to Ayatollah’s retaliation, he has a short runway to prove he can get anything done.
Israel’s strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites was a long-time in the making, knowing that Iran was producing enough weapons grade Uranium for several nuclear bombs. While the Ayatollah denies that Iran has its site on a bomb, most nuclear experts find no other explanation for Iran’s defiant refinement of 60% uranium enrichment. In order to use it for nuclear power reactors, the fuel would have to be diluted to 3.67%, the refinement needed for nuclear fuel rods. So, when it comes to explaining Ukraine’s 60% stockpiles, there must be some other use for weapons grade nuclear material. Trump tried diplomacy with Iran but trust Netanyahu to do what’s needed to protect Israeli national security. Trump wanted a peaceful resolution but the Ayatollah didn’t take his overtures for a new nuke deal seriously. No the Ayatollah faces a direct threat to maintain his power in Iran.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
