An American expert suggests this solution to the Iran crisis policy

An American legal expert said that war cannot provide a permanent solution to concerns related to Iran’s nuclear ambitions, and that diplomacy, treaties and strengthening international oversight mechanisms are the only way to prevent nuclear proliferation.

In his article in Newsweek magazine, Jonathan Granoff, in his capacity as President of the Global Security Institute, said that the current escalation in the Middle East resulting from the US-Israeli war on Iran threatens to expand the cycle of instability instead of addressing the core of the problem.

Granoff believes that the solution to the Iranian nuclear file lies in the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons as the legal basis for the global nuclear system, and pointed out that the upcoming treaty review conference at the United Nations represents a decisive opportunity to strengthen that international framework.

The writer, who has worked extensively in the areas of nuclear arms control, explained that Article Four of that treaty stipulates the right of all member states to develop and use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, which is a legally binding right that applies equally to Iran and the United States.

Granoff criticized Washington’s demand for Iran to accept a 20-year suspension of uranium enrichment, even for peaceful purposes, while exporting its uranium stock abroad. He said that this demand directly contradicts the clear guarantee that the treaty gives to peaceful nuclear programs.

Unannounced inspection mechanism

However, Granoff does not ignore that past Iranian behavior has raised legitimate concerns. The revelations in the early 2000s of secret nuclear activities weakened confidence and raised doubts about whether the Iranian program was entirely peaceful in nature.

Since Iran denies these accusations and insists that its program is civil and peaceful, Granoff believes that the bridge between Tehran’s position and the position of the international parties concerned is not through war, but rather through strengthening the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty itself.

The American expert proposes establishing a more stringent and comprehensive inspection and monitoring system under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency, inspired by the model of the Chemical Weapons Convention, which allows for surprise and direct inspections.

He stresses that these enhanced guarantees should not target Iran alone, but rather should be applied globally to all non-nuclear countries that fall under the Non-Proliferation Treaty, so that the matter does not appear to be political targeting of a specific country, but rather a new international standard for enhancing collective security.

Under this arrangement, Iran would retain the right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes, in exchange for accepting what Granoff describes as “the most intrusive inspection regime ever designed.” He stresses that this is not a punishment for Iran, but rather part of a more effective global standard that benefits everyone.

Trust, but verify

On the other hand, the writer called on the United States to express its willingness to revive the process of nuclear disarmament, because this commitment represents the essence of the treaty and not just a secondary clause in it.

Granoff warned that expanding the war on Iran would only lead to an increase in “violence, chaos, and the possibility of nuclear proliferation,” and stressed that “the law offers a better path than war,” and that the solution lies in strengthening verification mechanisms and equal adherence to international rules that govern everyone.

Granoff concluded his article by citing a quote by former US President Ronald Reagan, which reads, “Trust, but verify.” He commented on it by saying that it is still a valid phrase, and in his view, it is the only realistic path to peace in the region.