An observer could be forgiven for mistaking Iran for, say, Canada, what with all seeming goodwill flowing from Tehran these days. That includes signs that the Islamic Republic — now supposedly under new management — is ready to negotiate a deal on its nuclear-weapons program.
Please. If Iran is serious about wanting to become a civilized, peace-loving nation, or even just foreswearing nukes, it can prove it in an instant. Not with words — but deeds.
“I wish all Jews . . . a blessed Rosh Hashanah,” tweeted Iran’s new president, Hassan Rouhani, at the start of the Jewish new year. He’s also said to be readying conciliatory proposals on Iran’s nuclear program, and US and Iranian officials are planning to meet. The Obama folks reportedly are even open to a tete-a-tete between Rouhani and President Obama himself.
Déjà vu all over again, it seems — except with higher stakes. After all, once the president took office, his team spent years engaging the Iranians, while Tehran made big strides toward acquiring atomic weapons.
Since then, sanctions have taken a toll, and Iran now seeks relief. Its leaders reason, no doubt, that if Syria could use dialogue and a mere promise to turn over its chemical weapons to escape reprisal for having used them, Iran might similarly jaw-jaw some benefits for itself — and buy yet more time to build its bombs.
Down that path lies great peril.
If Tehran is truly well-intentioned and ready to make concessions, well, who’s stopping it? Forget talks; Iran can simply end its nuke program (and show proof) — instead of continuing to deny it has one.
It might also, say, halt its sponsorship of terrorists like Hezbollah. Or release US political prisoners. Or own up to its past evils and offer compensation . . .
No one should expect it to do any of this, of course. But the onus is on Iran. Until it has proven, beyond a doubt, that it’s scrapped its quest for A-bombs once and for all, pressure on Iran should only grow.