U.S. Must Challenge Iran's Leaders

U.S. Must Challenge Iran's Leaders

Though the threat of more economic sanctions have eased for now and the threat of military strikes has faded since the passing of the Bush administration and its belligerent rhetoric, Washington's power brokers appear to have given up on engaging Iran diplomatically, taking a tried-that/didn't-work approach. Offers of dialogue are unconvincing. The Obama administration seems to have dug in its heels, demanding that Tehran cave, rather than seeking a mutually agreeable solution.

In the meantime, Iran appears to progress steadily toward nuclear weapons breakout capability. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) estimates Iran possesses sufficient low-enriched uranium (LEU), over two metric tons, for purification into a single weapons-grade warhead of 20-25 kilograms of highly enriched uranium.

Iranian leaders have begun comparing their program to Japan's, which is capable of producing nuclear weapons rapidly. Japan stopped once it attained breakout capability; as it feels threatened by the outside world, Iran may not. So the nuclear impasse continues, with both sides trading barbs and prospects for improvement in bilateral relations further corroding.

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