The Hill News

This month I had the privilege of traveling to the Mideast to meet with leaders from Turkey, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. The purpose of this trip was to learn more about Iran’s nuclear program and the potential consequences if they were to develop nuclear weapons. As we met with several top foreign dignitaries across the region, they emphasized that America must lead on this issue.

Let’s review the established facts: Iran is a state sponsor of international terrorism and vocal enemy of the United States and our regional ally, Israel. In recent years they have taken to killing our military men and women in Iraq and Afghanistan. The clerics who rule the country aim to acquire a nuclear weapon, and soon, at any cost. Though estimates vary, Iran could have the bomb within a year. 

The Arab leaders we met with all fear that a nuclear Iran is likely to be far more assertive, and more inclined to intimidate its neighbors and threaten to dis! rupt international oil markets.  A regional arms race would likely ensue as neighboring countries seek to neutralize the Iranian threat. It’s also easy to imagine the proliferation of nuclear weapons to international regimes Iran’s leadership counts as friends, such as Venezuela or Cuba. In turn, a bomb-wielding Iran could well necessitate additional American security investment in the Mideast and beyond.

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