PRAYING MANTIS II: The Answer to Iranian Compliance

摘要

For over 15 years, the U.S. has been working towards encouraging Iran to abandon its nuclear ambitions. Despite acts of terrorism directed at the U.S. by Iranian proxies, such as Hezbollah, and the undermining of U.S. efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan, the U.S. has sought diplomatic means to encourage Iran to comply with United Nations (UN) resolutions that required Iran to divulge the extent of its nuclear weapons program, and stop attempting to process nuclear material to weapons grade. Despite the application of sanctions that have severely degraded Iran's economy and its people's standard of living, threats of more crippling sanctions, and the possible use of military force, Iran has remained defiant. Iran's threat to Israel and its existence has compounded the problem, and Israel will not wait indefinitely for action by the international community to pressure Iran to give up its nuclear weapons program. Iran will not abandon its pursuit of a nuclear weapon unless it faces an explicit threat of military force. The key to forcing Iran to comply with UN resolutions is the application of U.S.-led naval power to enforce sanctions and apply the necessary pressure to prevent Israel from acting unilaterally, thereby increasing stability in the gulf region.