Despite Iranian leaders have said several times through official statements that Iran is not seeking nuclear weapons, the US Defense of Democracy Foundation has recently suggested a comprehensive plan for the Biden administration to counter Tehran’s nuclear program through a variety of military and non-military measures.
FDD’s non-military measures against Iran’s nuke program
The FDD also recommended a number of non-military measures to the Biden administration to take in order to prevent Iran from what it called ‘nuclear weapons program’. which include the following:
- “President Joe Biden should issue an unequivocal statement such as: “If Iran takes more decisive steps towards producing a nuclear bomb, I will use military force to destroy Iran’s nuclear program and impose crippling costs on the regime.”
- This deterrent statement should not be reduced to just one or two lines in the president’s speech, but should be accompanied by an explanation of why it is essential to the national security of the United States that Iran not acquire nuclear weapons. Washington can get the support of the American people if one day it is necessary to confront Iran militarily.
- Especially during the election season and transition period, other senior US officials should also send strong messages that the US is committed to using force, if necessary, against Iran’s nuclear program. They include, but not limited to, Vice President Kamala Harris, Governor Tim Walz, Secretaries Lloyd Austin and Anthony Blinken, former President Donald Trump, Senator JD Vance, and some members of Congress from both parties.
- President Biden should reiterate and strengthen the existing commitment of the United States to support Israel’s actions to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear bomb. It is critical that the other senior US officials and candidates named above also express their strong support for Israel’s freedom of action to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear bomb.
- The Biden administration should also immediately increase the economic sanctions and not reduce them until Iran limits its nuclear weapons program. Even if the Biden administration is unwilling to do so, it should at least make clear to Iran that certain additional advances in its nuclear program will have severe economic consequences.
- The United States should cooperate with the United Kingdom, France and Germany to activate the snap-back mechanism through which the sanctions and restrictions of the United Nations prior to the JCPOA are re-imposed on Iran based on Resolution 2231 of the United Nations Security Council.
- The United States should take the necessary steps as soon as possible to deploy its cyber capabilities to disrupt and disable infrastructure related to Iran’s nuclear program. These infrastructures not only include Natanz and Fardo facilities, but also their critical and physical security structures.
- The United States should increase its cyber interaction and cooperation with Israel. Given the reported impact on Iran’s nuclear program of apparent US-Israeli involvement in Stuxnet, it appears that announcements of new US-Israeli cyber partnerships could add to the deterrence pressure on Iran.
- The government must without delay implement a covert and gradual offensive information warfare campaign inside Iran that systematically exposes the Iranian people to the news of corruption, hypocrisy, lies and cruelty of Iranian leaders.
- The United States should strongly encourage and assist the International Atomic Energy Agency to continue addressing its concerns that Iran’s nuclear program is not peaceful.
