Zero tolerance for nuclear-capable Iran

By Dan Coats

Three American presidents, including Barack Obama, have declared that a nuclear weapons-capable Iran is “unacceptable.” But to give real meaning to that declaration we must do whatever is necessary to prevent Iran from gaining this unacceptably dangerous capability.

This is the most urgent national security issue America confronts today.

Unfortunately, none of the actions taken, including inspections, reports and sanctions, has effectively challenged the Iranian regime’s nuclear ambitions. Similarly, the Obama administration’s diplomatic outreach to Iran has done nothing but encourage its bad behavior by making us look weak.

Advocating an international group hug does nothing but encourage the enemy; all talk and no action emboldens bullies to be even more aggressive toward its neighbors and the world community.

With former Sen. Chuck Robb and retired Gen. Chuck Wald, I have led an effort through the Bipartisan Policy Center to compel effective action. Each of our three reports has underscored the increasing urgency of the danger faced by our country, by the Middle East, and by the world, if Iran realizes its nuclear ambitions.

In our third report, released last week, we describe a three-pronged effort to raise the stakes to increase pressure on Iran to immediately halt their weapons program.

We make the case for:

A much-enhanced international coalition devoted to the same objective: to prevent Iran from gaining nuclear weapons.

A strong, ever-tightening sanctions track. The six U.N. Security Council sanctions resolutions over the past four years are far too weak to compel Iran to comply with the international community’s demands.

Concrete military preparations. We are dealing with a regime that appears to respect little other than the genuine threat of force.

There are no war advocates within the Bipartisan Policy Center where we, perhaps more than most within America’s foreign policy community, have analyzed thoroughly the means and consequences of potential military action against Iran’s nuclear weapons program.

Nevertheless, if it is true that a nuclear weapons-capable Iran is “unacceptable,” then our nation and the international community must understand what few options remain should the first two tracks fail. And Iran must be especially clear-eyed about those potential consequences. Indeed, to give the diplomatic and sanctions tracks the credibility they require, the military option must be genuinely credible.

These efforts are of course aimed at convincing Iran to change its attitude and behavior. But a related objective has taken on greater urgency in recent weeks and is an essential precondition for the first. That is to convince the international community that we absolutely will not tolerate an Iran with nuclear weapons.

Once our allies understand our determination and commit to the sorts of sanctions regimes necessary, we will finally bring the pressure on Iran required by these dire circumstances. This, in turn, will show Iran a united, formidable, and firm coalition entirely devoted to preventing it from holding our allies hostage to the Iranian nuclear capability.