No More Half-Measures: A Real Strategy for Containing Iran
- Jaden Torres
- 2h
- 3 min read
We tried playing nice—now Iran is two weeks away from the bomb. We need more than polite diplomacy.
As talks of reviving a nuclear agreement with Iran surface once again, it’s vital that the United States does not settle for the 2015 deal 2.0. While the Obama deal temporarily slowed nuclear progress, it was riddled with loopholes and sunset clauses that failed to address the broader scope of destabilizing behavior. This time around, we must pursue a tougher deal that is permanent and ensures non-proliferation and regional security.
Let’s be clear, the threat of Iran acquiring nuclear weapons is no longer theoretical. The regime is currently enriching uranium to 60% and advancing centrifuges—making it possible for Iran to develop a nuclear weapon in just 2 weeks, by some estimates. Meanwhile, Tehran continues to deny inspections of these facilities and moves them underground to prevent satellite surveillance.
At its core, a new deal must demand the verifiable and irreversible dismantling of Iran’s entire weaponization infrastructure. This includes full transparency into all military sites, undeclared facilities, and nuclear scientists’ activities. Mere pauses or enrichment limits won’t suffice. No sunset clauses. No loopholes. No delays. Without dismantlement, Iran will always be just a few steps away from a bomb— no matter how many inspectors we send or how many centrifuges they temporarily shut down.
But a threat posed by Iran is not just limited to uranium enrichment. Any serious deal must also address Tehran’s regional aggression and its vast network of proxy militias, particularly Hezbollah. Iran’s backing of Jihadist terror groups and militias from Lebanon to Yemen has fueled bloodshed and instability in the region for decades. Without curtailing Iran’s regional… adventurism, especially support for violent terrorist groups like Hezbollah, no nuclear deal can truly deliver long-term peace and security for Iran as well as the whole region.
That said, America can and should offer meaningful incentives in exchange for meaningful change. Sanctions relief and economic reintegration into the global financial system can be on the table—if and only if Iran fully complies with stringent and irreversible terms. There is a path forward for the Iranian people to prosper and rejoin the international community, but only if the regime stops using its resources to fund extremism and pursue nuclear weapons.
This is the time for America to strike a deal; Iran is vulnerable and their iron grip of terror on the region is slipping away. Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis have been hit hard since the barbaric acts of Hamas on October 7th. So have Iran’s air defenses— which have been significantly damaged by Israeli air strikes. At home, public unrest is high as economic catastrophe looms.
If all else fails, we must not be afraid to coordinate with allies to use force if necessary to compel Iran to come to the table. A credible threat of action is essential to deter stalling and prevent Tehran from inching towards a nuclear breakout. This, of course, does not mean a full-scale invasion, but rather targeted strategic attacks—such as disabling enrichment facilities at Natanz and Fordow. Such an approach would require blinding Iranian air, defense, and cyber attacks to neutralize Iranian command and control, and careful coordination with allies to prevent retaliation—again, only if diplomacy truly reaches a dead end.
President Trump’s hints that Israel should handle the job are a dangerous suggestion: It is only the United States that has the means to do this. A strike led by Israel would not only be able to attack all targets effectively, but also risk turning the confrontation into a religious flashpoint. A U.S.-led effort, however, sends a strong message to Iran: the free world demands non-proliferation and stability.
President Trump is sending the message that Washington is unwilling to lead and bear the consequences of confronting a threat that affects the entire world. This message only emboldens Iran and suggests that the US lacks the will to enforce its own red lines. I do believe that this is not the first mistake President Trump has made in regards to Iran; indeed, I believe his first mistake was walking away from the 2015 deal with no Plan B—allowing it to be released from its obligations and lead to a ramp-up in production.
If the President only walks away from these negotiations with 2015 2.0, that would be a catastrophic failure with untold consequences. Republicans must hold President Trump to the same standards they applied to Obama and demand complete disarmament of the Iranian terror regime. The stakes are too high for political expediency or nostalgic diplomacy. A new deal must be tougher, broader, and permanent—because anything less risks future conflict and undermines American interests.
Photo Credit:
[Header]: Shutterstock
[Embedded 1]: Getty Images
[Embedded 2]: Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS
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