Heinbecker: Are criticisms of the preliminary nuclear accord with Iran prescient or paranoid?
CIGI Distinguished Fellow
Neither, but sound policy lies somewhere between prudence and posturing. The objective has to be the preservation of the integrity of the Non Proliferation Treaty. Sound policy recognizes that there is much diplomatic work to be done and that difficult compromises will be part of any eventual agreement. A zero sum outcome is unachievable. Abject Iranian surrender cannot be had either through diplomacy or through any realistic use of force. In this context, the current deal is better than no deal and better than war and should be consolidated and improved on, which seems to have been the intent at Geneva.