The United States is on the verge of giving up its influence in the Middle East and the Persian Gulf. The most obvious indication of this abdication of power and influence is the flawed — nay disastrous — nuclear agreement with Iran. But it is also confirmed by the de facto U.S. acquiescence in Iranian violations of freedom of navigation, a cornerstone of American foreign policy for decades.
Concessions the United States has made to secure a final deal with Iran have made a mockery of the U.S. commitment to nuclear nonproliferation. For one thing, Iran claims that sanctions will be lifted immediately while the Obama administration says they will be phased out slowly. In addition, we have accepted a very high number of centrifuges (5,000, as well as a research-and-development program in place); failed to include missiles in the agreement; and acquiesced to Iranian limitations on permissible inspections, including Iran’s refusal to allow access to facilities where most experts believe that the Iranians have carried out weaponization activities.