BICOM

A group of influential former-US foreign policy and security officials, including one-time aides to President Obama, published a joint letter yesterday warning that the current nuclear deal being discussed with Iran is inadequate and won’t prevent Tehran acquiring nuclear weapons.

Iran and the P5+1 (US, UK, France, Russia, China and Germany) agreed a framework to a comprehensive nuclear deal in April, paving the way for negotiations to begin towards a long-term accord, which must be agreed by next week. However, both sides have since indicated differences over fundamental issues such as Iran’s use of advanced centrifuges, the pace of sanctions relief and provision for international inspections.

Yesterday’s letter, released under the auspices of Washington Institute for Near East Policy, warns that the deal currently under discussion “may fall short of meeting the administration’s own standard of a ’good’ agreement.” Starkly, the letter explains that, “The agreement will not prevent Iran from having a nuclear weapons capability. It will not require the dismantling of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.”

Those who signed the letter include Dennis Ross, an advisor on Iran and the Middle East during Obama’s first term, former-CIA chief David Petraus, former-National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley, Robert Einhorn who was part of the US negotiating team with Iran and Gary Samore, a former-Obama advisor on nuclear policy. Explaining that, “Most of us would have preferred a stronger agreement,” the letter suggests tougher terms on sanctions relief and international inspections. It also says that, “The United States must go on record now that it is committed to using all means necessary, including military force,” to prevent Iranian nuclear armament.

Earlier this week, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei appeared to toughen his stance in a televised speech. He said, “Inspection of our military sites is out of the question,” and also ruled out limiting Iranian nuclear research while insisting that all sanctions be lifted immediately once an agreement is reached.