What Do We Get?

By Ed Hoffman

If you listened to leading voices on the left last week, you may be inclined to believe that our country’s nuclear deal with Iran is “an important step” (as Hillary Clinton called it) or “a step in the right direction” (as Martin O’Malley said). What is it with Democrats and steps, anyway?

There are so many details in this agreement – “moving parts,” as people who think they’re smarter than you like to say – that it warrants an easy-to-digest recap. So if you aren’t exactly sure what’s in this deal, let me lay it out for you. Under this historic nuclear agreement with Iran:

• The United States and other Western powers will lift international sanctions on Iran and permit it to continue key elements of its nuclear work, as well as research and development.
• Iran will be permitted to continue spinning centrifuges, which are used to enrich uranium, the key component in a nuclear weapon. Western powers will work with Iran to help it install and operate more advanced centrifuges. That’s right: We will help them.
• Economic sanctions will be lifted on Iran, meaning that they will have immediate access to the approximately $100 billion in assets that were previously frozen abroad, including those banks and financial sectors that have long supported Iran’s sponsorship of international terrorist groups.

Let’s examine that last one for a moment. Essentially, Iranian revenue frozen in foreign banks will be unblocked and returned to the Islamic Republic. Senator Tom Cotton (R-AK) calls this Iran’s “signing bonus” in the deal, one that will allow it to pour more funds into overseas terror operations (and by “overseas,” experts generally mean the United States and Western Europe.) Let’s not kid ourselves into believing $100 billion is going to infrastructure projects in Iran. The Iranian government couldn’t care less about giving its people better roads and bridges.

But there’s more. This nuclear agreement also promises that:

• A United Nations embargo on Iranian arms will be lifted within five years’ time, and within eight years, Iran will once again be allowed to construct ballistic missiles.
• Iran has the right to veto so-called “anywhere, anytime” inspections of Iranian nuclear sites. The U.S. will have to submit inspection requests 24 days in advance.
• The United States will not be permitted to inspect Iranian nuclear facilities, ever. All inspections will be conducted by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

But don’t take my word for it. Members of the President’s administration have confirmed these details, including Secretary of State John Kerry and National Security Advisor Susan Rice.

So what do we get in this deal? Absolutely nothing, not even the return of the four American hostages who sit imprisoned in Iran on trumped-up charges. These hostages – Christian Pastor Saeed Abedini, former Marine Amir Hekmati, Washington Post Iran bureau chief Jason Rezaian and ex-FBI agent Robert Levinson – are clearly not as important to our government as Army deserter Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, for whom President Obama turned over five Taliban prisoners last year. The President scolded CBS’ Major Garrett last week for questioning the fact that getting back our hostages was not part of the deal, and Sec. Kerry claimed this week that, “Every single meeting, everywhere in the world that ever took place with the Iranians, we have raised the issue of the American citizens.” Raised the issue? How about demanding that the deal only goes forward if releasing our hostages is part of it?

Iranian president Hassan Rouhani declared that with this agreement, his nation’s “prayers have come true.” It appears he’s right.

Ed Hoffman is host of The Main Event on AM590, which airs Saturday 9:30AM- 10:30AM and Sunday 4:00PM- 5:00PM. Follow him on Twitter @EdHoffman, and like him on Facebook by searching The Main Event 590.