By Chuck Peña
Joe Biden will have his hands full when he assumes the mantle of the presidency on Jan. 20: COVID-19, the economy and trying to heal some of the wounds that divide our polarized country.
Last month’s assassination of Iran’s top nuclear scientist, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, is also a reminder that the Middle East is a tinder box that can easily and unexpectedly explode. Iran is blaming Israel and vowing retaliation, but there is always the risk of the U.S. being drawn into the fray or being targeted — especially with President Trump apparently having considered taking military action against Iran earlier in November. Nothing in the region is uncomplicated, but there are three prescriptions for reducing risks and increasing U.S. national security.
It is widely believed Biden will try to revive the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) — more commonly referred to as the Iran nuclear deal — and Iran claims it would return to the deal if Biden drops sanctions. Without debating the merits of the conditions of a deal, a return to the JCPOA would at least place constraints on Iran’s nuclear ambitions — which are now unchecked. But any deal (or lack of a deal) with Iran must be put in a larger strategic context. It cannot be emphasized enough that Iran is not a direct military or terrorist threat to the American homeland, which is the paramount concern for U.S. national security.
This piece was originally published in The Hill on December 9, 2020. Read more HERE.