The Patriot Post® · Courting Iran Is a Bad Idea
Recent reports indicate that Barack Obama fully intends to continue making really bad foreign policy decisions. He has already miscalculated on Russia, the Islamic State and Iran. Specifically in dealing with Iran, the administration appears to be busy crafting a major blunder.
The United States and Iran recently held secret meetings to discuss the future of diplomatic relations between the two nations. There is speculation of a new U.S. trade office opening in Tehran – which would be the first diplomatic mission in the Islamic republic since 1979, when it was overrun during Jimmy Carter’s presidency. Recall that his foreign policy failure resulted in a hostage crisis.
As expected, U.S. officials deny this report. But how believable is this administration?
Obama declared during an interview with CBS on Sunday that there is still a “big gap” in nuclear negotiations with Iran and that we may not reach a permanent agreement before the Nov. 24 deadline. Yet something stinks here, especially since it came to light that Obama had written a secret letter to Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei arguing the U.S. and Iran have shared interests in fighting ISIL.
Shared interests? Iran has been and continues to be one of the largest state sponsors of terrorism in the world. A recent Pentagon report reveals that “Iran continues to provide ‘calibrated aid to the Taliban’ in Afghanistan to help the group conduct attacks on U.S. and Western security forces operating in the country.” Iran does not share our interests in Afghanistan – on the contrary, the Pentagon says Iran wants to “expand its sphere of influence” and minimize “Western presence and influence.” After all, in Iran’s eyes, the U.S. is “the Great Satan.”
The United States is fighting terrorism while the radical regime in Iran is funding it. Yet Obama wishes to see Iran partner with America to fight against ISIL. Just how would this idea play out in our favor?
Iran’s opposition to the United States in Afghanistan alone should rule out any cooperation, but recall that this administration is desperate for help in fighting ISIL since Obama has tied our hands with his “no boots on the ground” promise.
Obama reportedly stated in his letter to Khamenei that a nuclear agreement could enable U.S-Iranian cooperation against ISIL. By this Obama apparently means Iran can carry out its nuclear ambitions on condition of helping us fight. Making such concessions is more proof that Obama operates on foolish hope rather than reality.
Yet there is more bad news. Recent information from the National Council of Resistance of Iran, an Iranian opposition group that has exposed Iran’s clandestine nuclear activities in the past, reveals that “a second device could be hidden at Iran’s Parchin military complex, or at some other site somewhere in Iran.” Further, the opposition group’s leader stated, “Today’s information uncovers a simple truth: The clerical regime is ceaselessly and secretly forging ahead with the military dimensions of its nuclear program and has no intention whatsoever of abandoning that program.”
It’s time for Obama to wake up to the reality of the threat posed by a terrorist-supporting Iranian regime with nuclear capability. The survival of our greatest ally Israel is at stake, not to mention our own interests in the region. Short-sighted goals like hoping for help from an enemy to fight our enemy won’t further our long-term objectives.