OPINION:
President Trump may have pressured Iran to come to the table and discuss peace, as well as the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. But Iran’s notions of a workable plan, as reported by its state-run news agency, IRNA, are a joke.
The latest batch of regime leaders — the ones who’ve not yet been killed — must be stuck in Barack Obama mode, when wooden pallets of cash totaling $400 million were secretly dropped into their hands.
No, tiny little terrorists. No. That was 2016. This is 2026. Trump isn’t going to pay for a pretend nuclear deal or a pretend peace deal.
“Do better” comes to mind.
According to IRNA, this is what Iran wants: America’s guarantee of peace — including America’s guarantee of Israel’s peace with Hezbollah. America’s recognition of Iran’s control of the Strait of Hormuz. America’s withdrawal from all regional bases and regions, including those in Israel and Iraq. America’s payment of reparations to Iran for war damages. America’s acceptance of Iran’s right to nuclear enrichment. America’s removal of all sanctions against Iran, both primary and secondary. An American-fueled pressure campaign for the global entities — the International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations — to tear up all accusatory resolutions against Iran; specifically, the resolutions that find Iran in violation of nuclear nonproliferation obligations.
What, no wood pallets of cash?
Iran’s idea of a peace deal is a nonstarter.
In late March, the White House reportedly sent Iran via Pakistan a 15-point plan to end military operations and included as a top demand was a complete halt of all uranium enrichment and pursuit of nuclear weaponry. The plan also called for IAEA monitoring of key Iran sites; Iran’s cessation of funding terrorism and arming terrorists in the region and around the world; and the permanent opening of the Strait of Hormuz and guaranteed unfettered access of all vessels. In return, Iran would see sanctions lifted. There was more. But the key takeaway is this: the 15-point plan and the 10-point plan are yin and yang.
Iran would’ve done the world a favor by simply sending a message that said, “We ain’t dealing with no Westerners.” That would have been more honest and saved a bucketload of time.
The Islamic republic is neither a serious peacemaker nor a worthy diplomatic partner. In fact, it really doesn’t even pretend to be; since taking power in 1979, the regime’s primary goal has been one of destabilization. It wants to spread its sharia principles across the region and into the West, while wiping Israel and America, if possible, from existence. Iran’s people may not all share that same vision, and many are repressed and abused by their own leaders — as the world saw when the regime was busily assembling women and children to surround the very sites Trump threatened to bomb earlier this week.
But that doesn’t change the fact the regime has waged war against America for 40-plus years, killing and injuring not just U.S. citizens and soldiers, but allies of the United States, too. As this White House has well said: Such unprovoked attacks cannot continue.
If Iran truly wanted peace, it would behave in a manner that suggested peaceful desires. But everything this regime desires, from control over the Strait of Hormuz to the recognized right to pursue its nuclear program — with the ultimate goal of developing nuclear weapons — says war, not peace. Everything within its 10-point plan for ceasefire suggests war, not peace. More than that, everything over its 47-year history shows war, not peace. The only ones to deny are those with similar designs for war, not peace.
• Cheryl Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com or on Twitter, @ckchumley. Listen to her podcast “Bold and Blunt” by clicking HERE. And never miss her column; subscribe to her newsletter and podcast by clicking HERE. Her latest book, “God-Given Or Bust: Defeating Marxism and Saving America With Biblical Truths,” is available by clicking HERE.
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