Memorandum on Iranian Nuclear Deal

TO: President Donald J. Trump

FROM: Joanna Vodola, Student

DATE: April 15^th, 2018

SUBJECT: Memorandum on Iranian Nuclear Deal with the United States

            On July 14^th, 2015, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action between Iran and the P5+1 was announced as the final product of their negotiations beginning in March of that same year. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action or more commonly referred to as the Iranian Nuclear Deal was a series of regulations created to stall Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. Should the United States decide to pull out of the deal, the entire thing would be void as it is a United Nations resolution and the United States has veto power. Due to Iran’s anti-American rhetoric and the weakness of the deal, The United States should veto the Iranian Nuclear deal and begin supporting democratic initiatives within the nation if they want to prevent Iran from obtaining Nuclear Weapons in the long term.

Context

            The Iranian Nuclear Deal was created in an effort to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons in apprehension of what their uses for nuclear weapons. The Iranian government has been less than agreeable with the United States in their policies resulting in Iran’s political system becoming a concern to the United States. As Iran is a predominantly Muslim society it is natural that Islam should influence their government. However, the structure of the Iranian government has prevented the growth of democracy within the nation. The Supreme Leader, who is appointed by Allah, is considered the highest ranking official in Iran and has the final word on all decisions. The rhetoric of this leader has repeatedly called for death to America and Israel throughout the past fifty years. Iran’s current Supreme Leader, Sayyid Ali Hosseini Khamenei, has repeatedly denounced the United States and their efforts in Iraq as well as claimed that the United States and Europe have engaged in terrorism in Iraq. He also alluded to the United States creating ISIS as an excuse to continue their ploy to destroy the Middle East.

            These anti-American and anti-Israeli sentiments have caught the United States attention and prompted the need for further action. The United Nations Security Council and Germany met with Iran to create a deal to halt their nuclear program. A deal was constructed which would block the Iranian government in several ways to stop them from creating nuclear weapons. However, the deal only lasts for fifteen years and the provisions of the deal are too weak to prevent Iran from making progress on their nuclear program.

Task and Solution

            While Iran has agreed to halt their nuclear program for fifteen years, there is no guarantee that fifteen years from now they will agree to another deal. The world has collectively decided that Iran should not possess nuclear weapons as they are an unpredictable nation. However, there is hope that the government of Iran will have made strides towards becoming more democratic and liberal. While Iran claims to be a democracy, the country has been run by the elder generation of immoderate Islamic men. This government has kept many of its people in the shadows preventing them from accessing worldly information. However, the youth of Iran have become increasingly pro-democracy in the recent years. While the Islamic Revolution promised a better Iran for these youths, they have failed to deliver. Many of younger individuals in Iran have become impatient with the current government and wish to see a freer, more modern Iran. The lack of change has made getting an education more difficult, and created a large unemployed population who are mostly under the age of thirty.

            The United States has found working with the current government to be very difficult and there are many roadblocks on the way to peace in the Middle East, including the Iranian government. Although, the present nuclear deal will halt the Iran from gaining nuclear weapons for fifteen years, there is no telling what the next fifteen years will bring. The United States should not support the Iranian nuclear deal unless and begin support the youth of Iran in their efforts to create a more democratic and liberal nation.

Evidence

            While the nuclear deal claims to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons for fifteen years, there are still plenty of loopholes around the regulations of the deal. For example, United Nations officials must give Iran nuclear facilities a twenty-four-hour notice before they plan on conducting an inspection. Iran is also allowed to continue enriching uranium as long as it is below the level of weapons grade uranium. The deal is also much more beneficial to Iran than the United States as it called for a lift on the sanctions against Iran. While there is no guarantee that Iran will obtain nuclear weapons, they needed the sanctions to be lifted in order to enter into the global economy. Lifting these sanctions will also allow, Iran’s scientific programs to become more advanced. Furthermore, there is no regulations on Iran developing any other nuclear technologies other than weapons grade uranium. Therefore, the new influx of cash will be able to fund Iran’s efforts to further weaponized their country.

            In an effort to combat these possibilities, the United States should strive to create a more democratic and liberal Iran from within. The Iranian youth have become increasingly empowered to evoke change within their own country and should have the United States support. While most of the current government continues to uphold centuries old ideas, the youth of Iran are ready for change. The United States should fund and support youth education initiatives within Iran to encourage internal change.

Implementation

The United States should veto the Iranian Nuclear deal and begin supporting democratic initiatives within the nation if they want to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons in the long term. The United States should have not engaged in with Iran although despite their claim that they are attempting to nuclearize their weapons arsenal. The United States should fund and support youth initiatives within Iran that call for a more democratic Iran and real change within the government.