Iran leadership can’t be trusted

By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal

Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal
Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal

SAN DIEGO — Rabbi Gabriel Isaac Polak (1851) hit the nail on the head about the current agreement reached with Iran in his comment on this week’s parasha.

The Torah teaches: “If a man makes a vow to the Lord or takes an oath imposing an obligation on himself, he shall not break his pledge; he must carry out all that has crossed his lips.” (Num. 30:3)

Rabbi Polak adds: “These words apply particularly to the leaders of the Tribes of Israel. It is the way of the world that when leaders want to be chosen they make lots of promises. However, there are many times when leaders make promises they don’t keep. That is why the Torah commands: ‘he must carry out all that has crossed his lips.'”

Even if I felt positively about the other elements of the agreement with Iran (which I don’t) I would still be concerned about Iran keeping its side of the bargain. Iran’s leadership historically has been secretive and duplicitous. I doubt that they will cease their quest to create a nuclear weapon.

Although the current agreement calls for inspection and verification, there are lots of loopholes. According the CBS News: “Inspectors will have continuous monitoring capabilities at known nuclear facilities like Fordow fuel enrichment plant and the Natanz enrichment facility. For other areas in the country, including military sites where there is suspected nuclear activity, IAEA inspectors will have to request access.

“If inspectors have concerns that Iran is developing its nuclear capabilities at any of the non-official nuclear sites, they are allowed to request access ‘for the sole reason to verify the absence of undeclared nuclear materials and activities or activities inconsistent with’ the agreement. They must also inform Iran of the basis for their concerns.

“Iran, in response, can propose alternatives to inspection that might satisfy the IAEA’s concerns, the deal says. But if they can’t come to an agreement to satisfy the inspectors within 14 days of the original request for access, the issue goes to a joint commission that consists of representatives from the P5+1 powers (the U.S., China, Russia, France, the United Kingdom and Germany), Iran, and the European High Representative for Foreign Affairs.

They have another seven days to reach an agreement that must be supported by at least five of the eight members. If they decide inspectors should get access, Iran has three days to provide it. That means a total of 24 days could elapse between the time inspectors first request access to a suspicious site and the time they are allowed entry.”(http://www.cbsnews.com/news/obama-inspectors-access-any-site-iran-true/)

In short, if Iran protests an inspection, its researchers and technicians have 24 days to hide equipment and material. If the Iranians have nothing to hide, they would have allowed such inspections immediately. Also, who knows how many unknown research sites the Iranians currently have?

Do I believe we can trust Iran to keep its word? Yes…as much as we can trust North Korea! Do I believe that the current deal will be ratified by Congress? No, but any bill trying to stop it will be vetoed by President Obama. Will Congress be able to override the veto? I doubt it. So we are stuck with it.

Israel is rightfully concerned, and so should the rest of the world. Even if Iran keeps its word and does not develop a nuclear weapon now, it is free to do so in ten years. When it does it will start a nuclear arms race in the Middle East. This would be calamitous not only for Israel but the entire world.

What can we do to stop it? Not much. However, even though this deal will certainly be approved, we must write our Congressional representatives and Senators to express our displeasure and concern and urge them to vote against giving their stamp of approval to the current agreement. At the very least the President should know how alarmed we are at an agreement that increases Iran’s world standing and permits her to one day create a nuclear weapon.

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Rosenthal is spiritual leader of Tifereth Israel Synagogue.  You may comment to him at leonard.rosenthal@sdjewishworld.com