To the editor:
According to the analysis in "Future Risks of an Iran Nuclear Deal," the essence of the tradeoff is that while the deal protects us from an Iranian nuclear bomb for fifteen years, it basically frees Iran from constraints after that. For proponents, that's a troubling, but worthwhile tradeoff.
They needn't be worried. After all, Iran will still be prevented from building nuclear weapons by the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
On second thought, maybe they should worry, since that treaty hasn't stopped Iran so far.
Oops. Once we've eliminated sanctions in an estimated six to nine months, for all practical purposes permanently, we'll be even less able to compel the Islamic Republic to adhere to the JCPOA than we've been able to compel it to adhere to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
So how exactly do we benefit from the JCPOA?
Sincerely,
Alan Stein