Top Iran experts in the U.S. and Israel are sounding the alarm, warning President Biden that his administration's strategy of de-escalation and containment towards Iran has failed.
As fears of the regime obtaining a nuclear weapon continue to grow, experts argue that the U.S. needs to reestablish deterrence against Tehran.
Recent reports have revealed that Iran is moving at an alarming pace to possess a nuclear weapon. In December, a confidential report from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) stated that Iran had increased its production of highly enriched uranium, reversing a previous reduction. The report also revealed that Iran is enriching uranium to up to 60%, close to weapons-grade levels, at its fuel enrichment plants.
David Albright, a physicist and founder of the Institute for Science and International Security, published a report titled "How quickly could Iran make nuclear weapons today?" In the report, Albright warns that Iran can quickly produce enough weapon-grade uranium for many nuclear weapons. He states that Iran could have enough weapon-grade uranium for six weapons in one month and enough for 12 after five months of production.
The State Department has acknowledged the nuclear ambitions of Iran and has vowed to prevent the regime from obtaining a nuclear weapon. However, experts argue that the current strategy of economic concessions and non-enforcement of sanctions has failed to deter Iran's nuclear program. Gabriel Noronha, a former U.S. Department of State adviser on Iran, criticizes Biden's approach, stating that Iran has advanced its nuclear program and increased funding to its terror proxies despite the concessions.
In addition to the nuclear threat, critics are concerned about Iran's proxies disrupting the world economy. The lack of counterattacks against the regime has heightened the dangers for international navigation in the Red Sea passage, which is linked to Israel's port of Eilat and Egypt's Suez Canal.
To address these concerns, experts argue that the U.S. needs to restart a diplomatic pressure campaign to have nations around the world place terror sanctions on Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its proxies like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis. Noronha emphasizes the importance of sanctioning these groups to cut off their funding and activities.
The Trump administration listed the Houthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, but the Biden administration quickly delisted them upon entering office. This move has raised questions about the administration's stance on the Houthis and its commitment to countering Iran's proxies.
The Houthis, who have launched missile attacks against Saudi Arabian oil installations and cities, claim to be fighting against Israel's campaign in Gaza and for aid to reach the region. However, their actions have raised concerns about their ties to Iran and their destabilizing activities in the Middle East.
Experts argue that the U.S. needs to reinstate a campaign of maximum economic pressure against the Iranian regime to cut off its ability to finance and support its terror proxies. They emphasize that oil sales are the lifeblood of the regime's terror funding and that enforcing sanctions aggressively is crucial.
Brig. Gen. Yossi Kuperwasser, an Israeli intelligence and security expert, urges the Biden administration to realize that the war against Iran is about national security and global status. He emphasizes the need to force Iran and its proxies to stop their violence and impose a heavier price on them.
The State Department acknowledges the seriousness of the Iranian threat and its commitment to confronting Iran's problematic behaviors. The spokesperson states that the U.S. is joined by like-minded partners in countering the threats emanating from Iran and constantly evaluating its approach to add pressure.
The Trump administration's policy of maximum pressure, which combined diplomatic isolation, economic sanctions, and military strikes, was seen as effective in deterring Iran's aggression and terrorism. However, the Biden administration favors a path of diplomacy to influence a change in Iran's behavior.
As the nuclear threat from Iran continues to grow, experts warn that a new approach is needed to reestablish deterrence and prevent the regime from obtaining a nuclear weapon. The U.S. must take decisive action to address Iran's nuclear ambitions and its support for terror proxies in the region.
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