In a few days, when the result of the election that has enthralled the entire world are clear, the winner will begin discussing policy in-depth rather than propaganda messages. Both candidates know the territory well. Trump finished an exciting four years in which he promoted Middle East peace agreements, reached out to North Korea for the first time, and put together his own policy on Iran. For Joe Biden, the White House is familiar territory after decades in the Senate and eight years as vice president to Barack Obama.
In Iran, the ayatollah regime is looking at the democratic process unfolding before its eyes with astonishment. Some of them don't understand how the biggest superpower in the world continues to grow and flourish when every four years, systems are upended in elections. Unlike the leadership, the Iranian public is asking itself when the day will come when they, too, will choose an authentic leadership that is obligated to the public and its needs.
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The Iranians, who invented chess, are waiting to see the next move by the player who will face them after the election. President Trump is leading a courageous policy of withdrawing from the 2015 nuclear agreement and applying major sanctions, and recently talked about the possibility of direct talks with Iran.
Former Vice President Biden has talked about the Iranian issue many time, and expressed his commitment to preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. Close associates of Biden are saying it's possibly he might rejoin the 2015 nuclear deal, and fix its flaws.
The US Department of Defense is busy preparing for possible courses of action against Iran's race to nuclearize. Before the winner of the election is briefed on Iran, he must take into account a number of fundamentals.
First, there is no learning period. The Iranians don't operate according to the US election schedule. While the US turned its attention to the fight against COVID and the Iranian presidential elections, the Iranian nuclear industry went on, as did their attempts to hide it and dupe the world.
Second, any deal with Iran is liable to be violated. Before the 2015 agreement was signed, Israel took a stance warning against it. Today, after the exposure of the Iranian nuclear archive that lifted the veil on Tehran's industry of lies; after the unequivocal decision by the IAEA; and after a few decisions by the UN Security Council – it is obvious to everyone that Iran is violating the deal.
Third, the only language that leads to true dialogue with Iran is sanctions. Only effective economic pressure motivates the Iranian leadership to recalculate its course. The more time that passes, with the clock ticking, we get closer to the day when the limitations on Iran's nuclear program end.
Mr. President-elect: the election isn't only about the US presidency, but for the leadership of the free world, and in that role, the Iranian issue must be handled as a top priority.
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