Obama appeasement shadows UN report on Iran seeking nukes

The United Nations nuclear watchdog issued a long anticipated report on December 2^nd accusing Iran of “coordinated” work to obtain nuclear weapons capability until the end of 2003 and some activities actually continuing beyond and up to 2009. While these allegations should act as a silver bullet against Iran and the ayatollahs clandestine pursuit of nuclear weapons, it is interesting to see how United States officials actually rushed to Iran’s support and downplayed the report. Unfortunately, the “Obama Legacy” is allowing Iran escape any serious accountability, again.

It is also easily speculated how the Obama administration’s pressures most probably forced the International Atomic Energy Agency to say its experts had concluded following a 5-month long investigation the lack of any “credible indications” of activities aimed at obtaining nuclear weapons in Iran after 2009. The IAEA report goes on to claim Iran’s nuclear activities were merely limited to weapons capability and scientific evaluations, and to obtain various nuclear capabilities.

One wonders why would Iran risk the threat of continuing its efforts to obtain nuclear weapons until 2009 under the trigger-happy Bush administration, and yet stop its efforts when the soft-toned Barack Obama literally opened his arms to the ayatollahs. The July deal actually prompted Iran to launch a new wave of crackdown inside the country. Anyone with the least of knowledge about Iran and its rulers understands that the ayatollahs will only back down from their ambitions, whatever they may be, before a strong tone and someone who means business. One such example was the release of the 52 American hostages in 444 days in January 1981 the moment Iran’s ayatollahs saw Ronald Reagan sworn in as president, knowing unlike Jimmy Carter he meant real business and was willing to take serious action.

Today, however, we are actually seeing U.S. officials boasting of how the recent findings are not likely to stop Tehran from gaining sanctions relief under the July agreement signed between the P5+1 and Iran. As the world is facing an increasing number of threats these days, these naïve U.S. officials are actually shoring support to lift sanctions off the shoulders of a regime known as the leading state sponsor of international terrorism.

To be realistic, the recent IAEA report adds to concerns amongst agreement critics over the expansion of Iran’s nuclear knowledge and capabilities. This has already raised deep anxieties over Tehran needing even less time now to ultimately develop a nuclear weapon or device if the ayatollahs one day decide to tear apart the July nuclear pact altogether.

While Tehran has for years denied ever having a nuclear weapons program, information presented by the IAEA backs evidence, mostly presented by the Iranian opposition, that Tehran pursued a major nuclear weapons program. This should also raise alarm bells and suspicions. If Iran lied then, what guarantee is there that it is not lying again now? The West should be very careful not to fall for Iranian president Hassan Rouhani’s smile or devious remarks, as he is one with the regime and ultimately seeks the interests of the ayatollahs.

The IAEA reported, for example, that the collected evidence is in contrast with Iran’s account for its work at the notorious Parchin military site, which stirred a huge fuss a few months ago. Western officials also believe the site was very much related to a nuclear weapons program.

Western diplomats had recently said Iran’s cooperation with the UN’s nuclear body was modest at best. Despite all this, Obama administration officials are emphasizing that the report should not block the implementation of the July nuclear deal signed in Vienna. Tehran was obligated to significantly scale back its future nuclear programs, and apparently only Obama administration officials are speaking out against the IAEA report in order to guarantee sanctions relief for the ayatollahs. These officials in Washington are defending Iran’s case better than the ayatollahs themselves, and this should be the most alarming matter in all this.

Rest assured that Iran is watching quite carefully and planning its next moves with the utmost precision in order to gain the most concessions possible from the weak stance it is seeing in the West, led by Washington. What is needed now is a firm response to the IAEA report and holding Iran accountable for all its lies over the years about its nuclear weapons ambitions. Any shortcomings in this regard will play into the ayatollahs’ hands and provide the opportunity they should not enjoy in the very dangerous world we are living in today.