The debate in America about the Middle East today surfaces myths and realities.
Myth 1: This conflict could have been avoided if the first Trump Administration had not withdrawn from the 2015 JCPOA nuclear deal with Iran.
In fact, the capture of Iranian nuclear files by Israel before America’s 2018 withdrawal revealed that Iran had a) more advanced and comprehensive weapons than previously revealed, b) plans to continue and conceal its nuclear weapons program, and c) systematically deceived the IAEA watchdog, in violation of its adherence to the Non-Proliferation Treaty. Iran never deviated from its intent to build nuclear weapons. It obtained JCPOA’s sanctions relief knowing the agreement’s sunset deadlines would soon enough allow it to proceed without restrictions. President Obama himself acknowledged that advanced centrifuge development would enable Iran to possess zero enrichment breakout time by 2028. These flaws and others — such as the deal’s blind eye to Iran’s sponsorship of regional proxies — were why JCPOA had limited political support in the U.S. and among America’s Middle East partners. Iran got cash to fund its military and Arab proxies in return for a modest delay in its nuclear programs.
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