Thread by @JohnGhazvinian

Been getting some fascinating reactions to my Op-Ed in yesterday’s @latimes — most of them positive and constructive. But I should also set a few things straight…. 🧵 1/

latimes.com/opinion/story/…

The Iran nuclear deal has actually been dead for a long time. Refusing to admit this, because we think the alternative is so much worse, is weak thinking. It only serves to entrench a “negotiations for the sake of negotiations” mentality… 2/

It’s time to be honest now. The #jcpoa has been sucking all the oxygen out of the room for far too long. It’s taken on a life of its own, making it impossible to talk about anything else when it comes to Iran…. 3/

Let me clear: I have been a supporter of dialogue with Iran for years. But the #jcpoa is actually getting in the way of that goal now. Which is the exact opposite of what it was meant to do…. 4/

So if you support better US-Iran relations (as I do) you need to take a deep breath and ask yourself if the #jcpoa is really the best way to do that anymore…. 5/

Remember the Arab-Israeli peace process? It’s been nearly 30 years and it’s become irrelevant — but no one can officially admit it. The #JCPOA is heading for the same fate if we’re not careful. All “process” and no peace…. 6/

There is a better world possible. One in which we remember that the US-Iran dispute is fundamentally political (not technical) in nature, and actually take steps to address our deeper political issues with Iran…. 7/

I’m not naive. I don’t believe that either country’s politics is conducive to a big diplomatic breakthrough right now. But there are quiet, incremental/tactical steps that can be taken, that will both reduce civilian suffering from sanctions & address US regional concerns… 8/

In short — returning to the way we dealt with Iran before 2009, which was far from perfect, but in retrospect was better than what we have today… 9/

And for everyone getting upset by this argument — please show me the plausible path back to a new #JCPOA. Please tell me how Iran can ever again trust US not to withdraw from the deal, or how US can ever roll back Iran’s nuclear capability to where it was 3-5 years ago…. 10/

Please show me the scenario under which negotiations don’t just drag on endlessly, while Iranians continue to suffer and die under sanctions, and Iran gets closer to 93% enrichment…. 11/

Because that’s where we are right now. Both countries “talking” while simultaneously creating facts on the ground. Sanctions and enrichment are the US & Iranian version of Israeli settlements and Palestinian militancy. And we know where that goes…. 12/

Negotiations for the sake of negotiations simply leads both parties to dig in their heels deeper and bolster their “negotiating positions” — thus entrenching unhealthy, antagonistic behaviour…. 13/

And please tell me why setting the #JCPOA aside somehow inevitably leads to war. It didn’t before 2009, and it’s even less likely today — because (let’s just say it) Iran is today a nuclear-capable state. There is no way in hell US will start a war with Iran (or vice versa)….14/

So yes. The Iran nuclear deal is dead. It’s time to bury it completely. And imagine a better future.
🇮🇷🇺🇸

latimes.com/opinion/story/…

PS Curious about the history of all this?

bit.ly/America_and_Ir…