Iran continues to impede International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors, raising concerns that Tehran may have accumulated enough enriched uranium for “several” nuclear warheads, according to reports.
Behnam Ben Taleblu, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, emphasized the growing threat of Iran becoming a threshold nuclear state. Despite challenges in the Middle East and the U.S. failing to effectively manage the situation, Iran appears to be advancing its nuclear ambitions as a potential deterrent.
The IAEA, a United Nations nuclear watchdog, has faced difficulties monitoring Iran’s enriched uranium stockpiles. In January 2023, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi warned that Iran possessed enough highly enriched uranium to construct multiple nuclear weapons if it chose to do so.
Iran seems to have benefited from what is described as President Biden’s “conciliate to evacuate” policy, involving agreements with Iran to reduce U.S. presence and responsibility in the Middle East. Critics, including FDD senior advisor Richard Goldberg and Rep. Darrell Issa, have argued that the Biden administration’s policies, including sanctions relief, have provided Iran with around $50 million, reversing the maximum pressure approach of former President Trump.
The administration’s actions are seen as emboldening Iran’s support for terrorism through proxy groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis.
While the Biden administration designated Iran’s proxies as terrorist groups, it stopped short of labeling them as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs). This move has sparked concerns about the implications of not using the maximum designation and the potential impact on regional security.
