Running out of Time on Iran

By: Daniel Cohen

As the fall semester rolls on towards Thanksgiving Break and the winter holidays, there is another clock ticking, buried deep beneath reinforced bunkers in Bushehr, Iran.  The world’s leading sponsor of terrorist activities – a rogue nation that has repeatedly called for the destruction of another UN state – is well on its way towards acquiring a nuclear weapon.

Following the Stuxnet virus in June 2010 (which many believe was engineered in tandem with several powerful Western nations), most Americans had hoped the Iranian nuclear program had been thwarted.  After all, the Stuxnet virus destroyed up to 1000 centrifuges (or 10% of Iran’s total supply) – enough nuclear equipment to set back Iran’s nuclear ambitions by as much as two years.

Nevertheless, right on schedule a year and a half later, Iran is at it again.  First, last month there was the foiling of the Iranian plot to kill the Saudi ambassador to the United States on American soil - signaling an emboldened regime with little fear of confronting the West.  This is nothing new; the Iranian regime has been the world's leading sponsor of terror for the last decade, even without nuclear weapons.

What may be surprising to some is that the nuclear program has bounced back so quickly.  The International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) UN report released last week confirmed, categorically, that Iran was working on a nuclear bomb-making program.   To make matters more alarming, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told government ministers Sunday that the IAEA report was only the tip of the iceberg.

The international stage couldn’t be set in a more diametrically opposing fashion if it was a Hollywood movie.

On one side, the West – the United States, Israel, Canada, and a handful of European allies.  The United States is doing everything it can to enforce tough economic sanctions on Iran, hoping economic pressure will weaken the regime to the point where it is simply no longer worth it to continue pursuing their nuclear program.  The Kirk-Schumer letter, signed in August by 92 senators, has laid the groundwork for the US to impose sanctions against Iran's Central Bank.  Unfortunately, not all countries are acting to stop Iran.  Arguably two of the most important players in the sanctions needling, Russia and China, have dragged their feet in the diplomatic effort, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stating Monday that the sanctions route is “exhausted”, and China also opposing further sanctions.  To these two countries, the economic benefit of continuing trade with Iran outweighs their fears of a nuclear Iran (whose missiles, they figure, won’t be pointing at them).

On the other side is Iran, with much of the Arab world looking on.  If Iran does succeed in obtaining a nuclear weapon – and both Pres. Obama and PM Netanyahu have repeatedly stressed that this will not be allowed - a common fear is that Iran will set off an arms race in the Middle East, with Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey also starting crash nuclear programs.  This would not be welcomed news to the Middle East nor to the rest of the world, as the region is volatile and introducing nuclear weapons could lead to a doomsday scenario.  In any case, Iran will gain serious leverage on the world stage if it becomes a nuclear power, and will surely shift the balance of power in the Middle East.

This leaves few options for the United States and for Israel.  A military option, once seen as a last resort, is becoming more of a reality.  Already, there has been a mysterious explosion last Saturday night at a Revolutionary Guards ammunition depot outside Tehran, which killed a senior Iranian missile expert and destroyed a large stockpile of Shahab missiles, which are capable of reaching Israel.

While the situation may leave many worried for Israel’s security without a clear idea of how they can help, there is a small window of opportunity here for campus advocates.  Perhaps more than at any other time, Americans are siding with Israel, sensing a collective security threat.  In fact, for the first time since 1991, more than 6 in 10 Americans are claiming to be sympathetic to Israel in the Middle East.

Now is the time to engage students on campus and to build coalitions.  Many organizations and constituencies are justly concerned about the Iranian regime, as its nuclear program is also a threat to the United States.  This is an issue that affects us all – it is time to reach out and work together.

Take Initiative on Iran today and order a copy of "Iranium" to screen on your campus