Photo Credit: Brendan Smialowski/Pool/Reuters

To put it simply, the Iran nuclear deal is a Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) made by Iran and the E3/EU+3 (China, France, Germany, the Russian Federation, United Kingdom, and the United States with the high representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy) to prevent Iran from developing Nuclear weapons while assisting in their quest to develop a sustainable and peaceful nuclear program. According to this deal, Iran must adhere to strict regulations on its nuclear development for 15 years in exchange for the lifting of crippling economic sanctions placed by the international community. To understand the ramifications of this historic deal, one must first understand the context for which it emerged.

     The 1979 revolution dramatically changed Iran’s course of history. Iran transformed from a Western Ally under the brutal Shah to the number one state sponsor of terrorism around the world. The last 35 years have brought numerous terrorist attacks funded or carried out by Iran including but not limited to the bombing of the U.S embassy in Beirut by Hezbollah, an attack on the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires, the bombing of a Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires, and the bombing at Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia. Iran currently funds Hezbollah, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, insurgencies in Iraq and Kenya, and maintains ties to Al Qaida. For these reasons, all rational people agree this evil regime should not posses nuclear weapons. However, people disagree on how to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

     Many reasonable people believe the current deal will prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Under this deal, the JCPOA will supervise all Iranian nuclear development and restrict Iran in its enrichment of uranium and production of other nuclear infrastructure and materials. Though Iran is part of the JCPOA and will take part in their own inspections, the sanctions relief should hopefully keep Iran on track for the 15 years in which the restrictions are in place. Additionally, should the JCPOA determine Iran to have illegally moved nuclear materials to a non-declared nuclear site, it could take up to 24 days for the international community to investigate the site. This complicates any investigation into possible clandestine nuclear facilities, though again, sanctions relief is intended to prevent Iran from cheating while the restrictions remain in place. However, when the restrictions expire after 15 years, IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) will monitor the program without them. Because the restrictions will expire, Iran will be able to freely build the infrastructure necessary to develop nuclear weapons. Breakout time for Iran to develop nuclear weapons will go to almost zero and the international community will essentially be forced to trust Iran not to develop them. If you wish to know the specifics of the restrictions, follow this link.

     I oppose this deal for a few reasons. Under this deal, sanctions will be lifted beginning immediately (based on good faith and not verification that Iran is complying with the provisions in the deal) and will be completely gone in eight years. This sanctions relief will undoubtedly pump billions into the depleted Iranian economy, but even President Obama admits they will also go to increased funding of terrorist organizations. Because this deal does not include a provision preventing Iran from funding terrorist organizations or attacks, it has the potential to indirectly contribute to the murder of thousands of Syrians, Israelis, Kurds, and other victims of Iranian proxy terror.

     Secondly, Russia recently announced plans to sell anti-aircraft missiles to Iran. Should Iran violate the agreement or develop nuclear warheads 15 years from now, these anti-aircraft missiles can prevent a US or Israeli airstrike on Iranian nuclear facilities. If a war with Iran appears grim now, imagine 15 years from now if or when Iran (and its proxies) has nuclear weapons, anti-aircraft missiles, and a much stronger economy. This sale makes worst case scenario that much more plausible and was only made possible because the deal did not prevent it.

     Finally, I oppose this deal because it encourages a nuclear arms race in arguably the most volatile region in the world. Saudi Arabia reiterated their desire to purchase nuclear weapons from Pakistan. Should Shiite Iran and Sunni Saudi Arabia continue their violent rivalry with nuclear weapons, the already bloody Middle East could become the setting to a new Mad Max film.

     When the JCPOA announced the deal Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, supreme leader of Iran, led chants of “Death to America, Death to Israel, and Death to Saudi Arabia”. Khamenei, owner of a $95 billion company created by seizing assets from Iranians and others, has repeatedly called for the destruction of Israel and the United States and must be taken seriously.

     I oppose the Iran Nuclear Deal, not because I oppose any diplomatic endeavor with the terror state of Iran. I oppose the deal because it allows for a catastrophic worst case scenario. This scenario, Iran developing a nuclear arsenal and using its terror proxies to murder millions of Americans, Israelis, Europeans, and Sunnis in the Middle East and abroad, becomes more probable and less likely to prevent because of the signing of this deal. I encourage everyone to do their own research and to write their representatives to strike down the deal and to threaten Iran with sanctions, should Iran fund terrorist groups. Lastly, this deal terrifies me because of historical precedence. The nuclear deal with North Korea failed, as did the last time the West made a deal appeasing a tyrannical genocidal maniac. Though I am skeptical, I hope and pray this deal actually does bring peace for our time.