Should the IAEA End Its Iran-Israel "Double Standards"?
Iran thinks so, but the situation is quite complex (cf. Israel's War with Iran Isn't One Conflict). The legality of Israel's nuclear ambiguity is a matter of some debate. The policy has strategic pros and cons for America, Israel, the Middle East, and the world (cf. Israel's Nuclear Ambiguity and the Failure of Global Non-Proliferation; Israel's Nuclear Doctrine: A Science and Law-Based Assessment; The Evolution and Future of Israeli Nuclear Ambiguity). The Saudis may not want to normalize with Israel unless it declares the full extent of its nuclear program, totally aside from potential Israeli agreement with a two-state pathway. My sense is that yes, the Iranians do have a legitimate grievance about Israeli nuclear ambiguity that eventually needs to be addressed by the IAEA Board of Governors and the UN Security Council, ideally with respect for Israel's unique integrity and exceptional circumstances. In the near-term, however, I don't think this legitimate grievance in any way justifies Iran's violations of either the NPT or resolution 2231, including uranium enrichment at 60% and the provision of lethal drones to Russia for war with Ukraine. Especially in light of this enrichment brinkmanship and these illegal arms transfers, I am not sure the E3 can avoid initiating snapback sometime in August, unless perhaps Iran brings transformative concessions to the table in the meantime. In my opinion, the ceasefire in the aftermath of Operation Midnight Hammer is a moment for Iran to increase its cooperation with the IAEA, not double down on non-cooperation. The IAEA is not Iran's enemy. It is Iran's best shield - but only if Iran genuinely chooses the path of an exclusively peaceful nuclear program. Instead of demanding the IAEA immediately recognize an Iranian right to limited enrichment, Iran should table a willingness to suspend all of its enrichment for the next 12 months.
Alright, it is just about 7 PM EDT on Monday and I might be able to close the last of my 46 open Google tabs with one more entry this evening.

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