An Obstacle to Reality |
As the Trump administration and Iran work through the final details of this agreement, the real obstacle is not the critics in Washington, Jerusalem, or Tehran. The obstacle is reality. The Islamic Republic of Iran has spent more than four decades proving that it cannot be trusted. It lies as a matter of state policy, violates agreements when convenient, funds terrorism across the Middle East, and uses every diplomatic opening to stall and strengthen its position.
Several conservative voices have warned President Trump against trusting Tehran, while hard-liners in Iran oppose any agreement with the United States. Both sides understand what is at stake. Iran is not pursuing this deal out of goodwill; it is pursuing it because sanctions have crippled its economy and access to billions of dollars in frozen assets would provide the regime with a desperately needed financial lifeline.
The agreement initiates a 60-day negotiating period over Iran’s nuclear program, which the United States suspects could be used to develop nuclear weapons. In return, Tehran expects access to billions of dollars currently blocked abroad and relief from........