The Providence Journal (R.I.), Oct. 31:
Many Americans, us among them, have had reservations about President Barack Obama’s July 14 nuclear deal with Iran, which every member of Rhode Island’s congressional delegation supported.
Developing a positive relationship with an old enemy can greatly promote peace and security. That said, it is not wise to trust or strengthen the Iranians, given their conduct.
Alas, a recent episode confirmed why it’s always dangerous to put one’s hopes in a regime such as Iran, whose hard-line religious leaders are fond of chanting “death to America” and threatening to wipe out Israel.
Earlier this month, Iranian state TV announced that a new guided medium-range ballistic missile had been fired. Defense Minister Gen. Hossein Dehghan glowingly told the network that this missile “will obviously boost the strategic deterrence capability of our armed forces.”
This is the first time (to the public’s knowledge, anyway) that Iran has attempted to do something with a ballistic missile since the nuclear deal was signed.
There’s one problem. Iran’s test is a direct violation of a June 9, 2010, U.N. Security Council resolution against this country with respect to nuclear weapons and testing.
According to U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power, this missile was “inherently capable of delivering a nuclear weapon.” She brought the matter up with the U.N. Security Council.
Good. We hope the United Nations, as an international body, will take this direct violation seriously.
We shouldn’t be entirely surprised, however, at Iran’s behavior. The country reportedly restarted its controversial uranium enrichment program in 2005. Although its leaders repeatedly deny its existence, a 2011 report by the International Atomic Energy Agency – which reports directly to the United Nations – seemed to show otherwise.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has called the nuclear deal “a beginning point” in thawing his country’s relationship with the United States.
That is nice. But it is high time the Iranians stopped developing weapons that could put America and its Western allies in grave danger.
A warning from the United Nations would be helpful.
At the same time, it would have much greater impact coming from Mr. Obama and the White House. We should not trust Iran to do the right thing.
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