Biden’s hopes of reviving the Obama-Iran deal, later scrapped by Trump, are dwindling as intelligence warns the country is just weeks away from procuring enough nuclear material to build its first nuclear bomb
- The White House hoped the deal could not be revived until the summer, but the Biden administration is now reportedly accepting its untenability
- Iran is believed to be unwilling to dispose of nuclear material accumulated since Trump scrapped Obama’s 2015 deal in 2018
- Iran could be just weeks away from procuring enough materials to build its first nuclear bomb, even though the construction itself would take two years
- The US’s most sophisticated bunker buster bombs would have to be used to disrupt production at Iran’s hardened Fordaw plant
- Iran is also suspected of producing weapons for Russia’s war against Ukraine, which could further escalate tensions between the US and the Kremlin
President Biden’s hopes of reviving Barack Obama’s deal with Iran have faded amid claims the Islamic regime has just weeks to have enough nuclear material to build its first nuclear bomb.
As recently as the summer, the President had hoped to be able to revive the peace agreement signed by Obama in 2015.
This deal eased sanctions against Iran in exchange for curbing nuclear weapons activities. It was scrapped by Donald Trump in 2018 over fears Iran would break its promises not to develop the bombs it previously promised to use to destroy Israel.
On Thursday, The New York Times reported that Biden’s hopes of resuming peace talks with Iran were “all but dead” as the president imposed fresh sanctions on Iran while backing anti-government protests, infuriating leaders there.
Iran has also supplied Russia with drones to aid it in its war against US-backed Ukraine and is even suspected of working to manufacture missiles for Putin’s regime.
If this suspicion is confirmed, a US-Russia conflict could even be triggered.
White House hopes of reviving an Obama-era deal with Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenenei (right) have been dashed, it has been reported. It is now feared that Iran is only weeks away from having enough material to build a nuclear bomb, even though such a weapon would take around two years to build
Russia has not halted shipments of Western arms to Ukraine and would likely view the US and its allies with suspicion if they worked to disrupt Iranian arms shipments to Kremlin-backed troops.
The Times reported that White House meetings are now focused on curtailing Iran’s nuclear plans amid claims the country is just weeks away from acquiring enough nuclear material to build a bomb.
Much of this material was allegedly transported to a hardened underground facility called the Fordaw, which only the most powerful US bunker-busting bombs could penetrate.
The US has further infuriated Iran by supporting anti-government protesters trying to overthrow the country’s hard-line Islamic government. A pro-Iran protester is pictured November 18 at the UN headquarters in NYC
Such a bomb would likely take at least two years to build, with Iranian leaders frequently vowing to wipe out US ally Israel if they were ever able to.
Attempts by the International Atomic Energy Agency to contact Iran fell through after its demands for access to sites suspected of producing nuclear material were rejected.
Middle East expert Henry Rome of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy told the Times: “Imagine telling the new administration in January 2021 that Iran will be enriching near-weapons-grade uranium at Fordow within two years, and doing its most advanced Uranium would use centrifuges in large numbers, accepting severely limited international surveillance, piling up multiple bombs of highly enriched uranium, and rebuffing diplomatic efforts.
“It’s not a worst-case scenario, but it’s pretty close.”
And the State Department’s special envoy for relations with Iran, Robert Malley, accused Iran of falling into a series of “vicious cycles” that further isolated it and worsened the chances of conflict with the US and its allies.
In 2018, President Trump scrapped the deal that his predecessor, President Obama, had worked out in 2015. He said Iran is not fulfilling its promises not to collect material for nuclear weapons. Obama agreed to ease sanctions on Iran in exchange for a promise not to develop nuclear weapons
He explained: “The repression fuels further protests. The protests trigger further repression.
“The alliance with Russia only further isolates Iran, prompting it to double down on that alliance as there is no other partner.”
US intelligence officials are also said to have informed the President that the revival of the deal was unpopular with Iranian officials.
They are said to be unhappy at having to dispose of nuclear materials they have acquired in the four years since Trump ended the deal.
Iran’s violent and often deadly crackdown on women’s rights protesters has further angered the US to revive the deal.
And his government’s support for Russia further hampered attempts to revive the peace deal.
The White House is now said to be actively working to disrupt the supply chains of military equipment moving between Iran and Russia.
They also work to support pro-democracy protesters in their attempts to undermine the country’s draconian Islamic regime.
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby confirmed: “There is currently no diplomacy regarding the Iran deal.
“We’re in a dead end right now and we’re not focusing on that.”