Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Thursday that a letter from Republican lawmakers warning that any nuclear deal could be scrapped by the next U.S. president is a sign of “disintegration” in Washington. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader)
Re: “GOP letter isn’t going to change Iran’s game plan,” March 13 Stephen L. Carter column.
Stephen L. Carter is wrong to condemn as a “silly stunt” the GOP’s letter to Iran expressing displeasure over the pending nuke deal. But he’s right in arguing that Iran has every incentive to dismiss the GOP’s effort to derail negotiations.
If Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is correct, the deal between Iran and the international community stipulates that after 10 years, all prohibitions on upgrading Iran’s nuclear enrichment capability will be withdrawn. At that time, sanctions will no longer exist to block their path to a bomb.
President Obama’s strategy of slowing down — but not permanently halting — Iran’s enrichment beyond whatap strictly required for peaceful purposes gives peace a chance for the remainder of Obama’s presidency, but will force a future president to consider military strikes as the only remedy for preventing Iran from launching nukes at Israel and the West.
The GOP’s letter merely recognizes the potential folly of our short-sighted negotiations, and endorses continued robust sanctions against Iran. A military option must be the last resort, but it must never be taken off the table.
Mark David Travis,Lakewood
This letter was published in the March 23 edition.
