Iran Must Be Obama’s Immediate Priority

Henry Kissinger served as secretary of state from 1973 to 1977 under two Republican presidents. His gradual shift from hardline US military action in Vietnam to US withdrawal and ceasefire won him the 1973 Nobel Prize for Peace along with Le Duc Tho. His diplomacy also contributed to opening China and resuming US relations with Egypt. In an opinion essay for the Washington Post, he argues that halting Iran’s pursuit of a military nuclear program is President Obama’s top priority. Like many, Kissinger expresses frustration over Iran’s “alternated hints of flexibility with periods of intransigence, all while expanding, concealing and dispersing its nuclear facilities.” Unless Iran’s enrichment pursuit is stopped, it would soon be a stone’s throw away from full nuclear-weapons capability and encourage others to do the same. Kissinger supports a 5 percent enrichment level, while IAEA inspections reveal Iran reaching at least 20 percent levels; he notes a decision on permissible levels and deadlines rests solely with Obama, whose goal has long been global reduction of nuclear weapons. Kissinger urges creative diplomacy, gathering solid support for action. Time is running out for Iran. – YaleGlobal