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Biden Chickens Out To America’s Enemy

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Why is Biden backing down now?

The White House is urging Britain and France not to formally reprimand Iran for its expanding nuclear program. U.S. officials have been pressing allies, including European nations, to oppose a censure of Iran at the upcoming International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) board meeting, according to diplomats familiar with the discussions as reported by the Wall Street Journal.

Additionally, the United States is considering abstaining from the vote, with some diplomats suggesting that a censure might further destabilize Iran following the recent death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash on May 19.

A State Department spokesperson informed The Post that no final decisions have been made regarding the upcoming meeting, emphasizing that any speculation is premature. The spokesperson added that the U.S. is increasing pressure on Iran through sanctions and international isolation, as demonstrated by the coordinated G7 actions following Iran’s recent attack on Israel. The U.S. remains in close coordination with its E3 partners—France, Germany, and the UK.

Other officials in the Biden administration have advocated for European countries to increase pressure on Iran by expelling regime banks and designating the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization.

Amid reports of discord between the U.S. and its allies on this issue, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) criticized the administration for allegedly undermining efforts to hold Iran accountable for its ongoing violations of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

The Obama administration had previously eased sanctions on Iran in exchange for limitations on its nuclear program under the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA). However, the deal was abandoned by former President Donald Trump in 2018, and President Biden declared it “dead” in November 2022, despite attempts to revive it.

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Recently, the Biden administration extended a sanctions waiver, unlocking $10 billion in frozen funds for Iran by allowing Iraq to pay for electricity services. Representative Mike Waltz (R-Fla.) criticized this move, labeling it as part of a decade-long failed appeasement policy.

Further controversy arose with revelations that the Obama administration had allegedly blocked FBI arrests of individuals linked to Iran’s nuclear and missile programs. These claims were brought to light by whistleblower disclosures.

The IAEA reported that Iran is amassing weapons-grade nuclear material, with 313.2 pounds of uranium enriched up to 60%. The agency noted that 92.5 pounds of such enriched uranium could be sufficient to produce a nuclear weapon in a matter of days. In February, the IAEA documented a 45.4-pound increase in enriched uranium.

U.S. ambassador to the IAEA, Laura Holgate, stated in March that Iran’s cooperation with the agency remains inadequate, suggesting that further actions might be necessary if there is no significant improvement.

While Iran insists its nuclear program is for civilian purposes, the IAEA board expressed profound concern in November 2022 over Iran’s lack of transparency and failure to cooperate with the UN watchdog, noting the presence of nuclear material at undeclared locations.

If Iran does not change course, U.S. officials anticipate the reimposition of international sanctions and a potential referral to the UN Security Council. However, such a referral would likely face resistance from Security Council members Russia and China, both of whom have strong ties with Iran and possess veto power.