The US Could Leverage Iran's Uranium Enrichment for Its Interests

Seyed Hossein Mousavian, former ambassador and head of the Iranian National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, discussed the negotiations between the US and Iran regarding Iran's nuclear program on the Responsible Statecraft website.

The Iranian Nuclear Crisis and Regional Balance: Since April, Iran and the US have engaged in multiple negotiations surrounding the nuclear program. Despite some progress, Washington suddenly announced that Iran has no "right to enrich uranium." Furthermore, 200 members of the US Congress have written to President Trump opposing any deal that would allow Iran to maintain such capabilities.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei described these demands as "excessive and outrageous" and "nonsense," stating that Iran will never forsake its right to peaceful uranium enrichment enshrined in the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Mousavian recalls that as early as 2012, he disclosed in his book that Khamenei had clearly told Rouhani that such a renouncement could only occur after his death.

Ultimately, the Obama administration signed the historic Iran nuclear agreement (JCPOA) in 2015, choosing diplomacy over war.

Allowing Iran to Enrich Uranium as an American Interest: If Washington denies Iran's right to enrich, nuclear negotiations will fail. Paradoxically, Iran's enrichment right is not a threat to US interests but an opportunity. The US needs to move away from the idea of granting dominance to Israel, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, or Egypt and adopt a principle of "balance of power." Lessons from Failed Wars: One-quarter of America's 400 wars have taken place in the Middle East and Africa. These failed interventions have cost trillions of dollars, thousands of lives, and have led to an increase in terrorism and instability. A war with Iran would be even more disastrous than those in Afghanistan, Iraq, or Yemen.

Nuclear Balance Instead of Israel's Monopoly: Kenneth Waltz, the father of neorealism in international relations, argued that a nuclear Iran could balance Israel's monopoly. Though Mousavian opposes the proliferation of weapons, he emphasizes that the only solution is the establishment of a nuclear-free zone in the Middle East involving all countries, including Israel.

Preserving the US-led Global Order: The global order established after World War II is based on the NPT, disarmament, and non-proliferation. America's double standards—tolerating Israel's nuclear arsenal while prohibiting Iran's peaceful enrichment—undermine international norms and jeopardize US credibility. Moroccan historian Mohammed El Mansouri writes, "What angers Arabs the most is the perception of America's double standards, the different approaches it takes toward Israel and Arab countries."

Economic Interests: Trump has boasted about trillions of dollars in deals made with the Middle East. However, war could jeopardize all those agreements, putting American bases and interests within reach of Iranian missiles and drones. The cost of losses would burden American taxpayers for decades.

Rejecting an Israel-Centric Approach: For a long time, US policy has aligned with Israeli desires. However, Americans are growing increasingly disappointed; over 69% prefer a peaceful agreement with Iran where neither Israel nor Iran possesses nuclear weapons. More than 60% now believe that Israel plays a negative role in addressing key challenges in the Middle East. The International Criminal Court has accused Israel of potential genocide. Unconditional support for Israel has led to isolation and discrediting of American values.

Conclusion: The US cannot afford to repeat old mistakes. Instead of opposing Iran's legitimate enrichment rights, Washington should leverage them. This is not appeasement, but realism, law, and long-term American interests. A balanced, rules-based approach grounded in the NPT and regional diplomacy is the only sustainable path forward. Moreover, through a fair and mutually face-saving nuclear agreement, Washington can pave the way for the normalization of diplomatic relations with Iran based on mutual respect and non-interference principles, as enshrined in the UN Charter.