OPINION:
I fail to see how the memorandum of understanding with Iran favors U.S. efforts to bring peace to the region.
The document says that Iran will never produce nuclear weapons. Then it says the status quo, in which Iran produces enriched uranium used in nuclear weapons, will be maintained.
There is no requirement for Iran to do anything now or in the future to show that it will uphold the second to any further extent any more than it has in the past.
In the MOU, the U.S. also guarantees, with unnamed regional partners, $300 billion to Iran for rehabilitation and economic development. Since the regional partners are not part of the guarantee, the U.S. must make up any shortfall. Basically, we are paying Iran reparations.
Under the MOU, the U.S. has no authority to cancel unilaterally United Nations or International Atomic Energy Agency sanctions. Iran gets possession of assets before final agreement and must do nothing in return.
And the U.S. has no authority to preclude actions in Lebanon by Israel.
The document fails to address factors critical to the violent dominance Iran has exerted over the region. Iran makes no statement that it will stop supporting the terrorist actions of Hamas, Hezbollah or the Houthis. It makes no statement that it will stop developing missiles and attack drones ever more capable of dominating the region.
NOLAN NELSON
Redmond, Oregon
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