In a report viewed by Reuters on May 30th, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) claimed that Iran failed to sufficiently explain the existence of three undeclared sites, Marivan, Varamin, and Turquzabad, that house uranium particles. Iran called for the IAEA to end its investigation into the sites, an issue that has delayed the negotiations in Vienna, Austria, to reestablish the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, commonly known as the Iran nuclear agreement. The IAEA’s board of governors could push to censure Iran for its lack of transparency in their next meeting, a move that would further distance the U.S. and its allies from Iran. Iran has enriched 18 times the quantity of uranium allowed for in the nuclear deal, and its uranium stockpile enriched to 20% and 60% has grown by 56.3 kg and 9.9 kg, respectively, since the previous report. The IAEA views the 60% quantity as a “significant quantity.” The Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation views a 20% level of enrichment as “90% of the effort needed to produce weapons-grade fissile material.”

Regarding Iran’s lack of cooperation and the possibility of a future deal, IAEA Chief Rafael Grossi claimed, “It would be difficult to imagine you can have a cooperative relationship as if nothing had happened if the clarification of very important safeguards issues were to fail.” State Department Spokesman Ned Price gave context to the U.S.’s goals during negotiations with Iran, “We’re going to test the proposition of a mutual return to compliance with the JCPOA for as long as doing so remains in our interests.”

An additional point of contention between the U.S. and Iran is President Trump’s 2019 designation of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization, a label usually reserved for non-state actors. President Biden has not reversed this decision (which is likely an attempt to maintain an appearance of hostility against Iran) but has simultaneously, according to Colum Lynch of Foreign Policy, attempted to reintroduce Iran to the global oil market to blunt the rise in oil prices. The U.S. must take steps to oppose Iran’s nuclear program and terroristic government by ceasing any efforts to renegotiate the nuclear deal. Encouraging the IAEA to censure Iran for its failure to comply with investigations and working with the EU to maintain sanctions against Iranian businesses and politicians helps accomplish these goals. 

While the downside to taking a hardline stance against Iran is that its efforts to gain nuclear capabilities will continue in full force, the long-term effects of opposition to the Iranian government will likely lead to its downfall regardless of its nuclear capabilities. The last Iranian presidential election was viewed as rigged in favor of the ultra-conservative Ebrahim Raisi and, thus, saw a significant decrease in turnout. Protests have occurred recently over government negligence regarding the collapse of a building that killed 37 people and a 300% increase in the price of flour-based foods. In the more free 2017 election, Iranians elected the centrist Hassan Rouhani, displaying the people’s inclination towards a deviation from conservative Islamist rule.

The UN Security Council nations and Germany established the Iran deal in 2015 in an effort to restrict Iranian nuclear production by lowering economic sanctions in return. The plan required Iran to send 98% of its enriched uranium abroad and restricted the purity level of uranium Iran could produce to 3.67% while also allowing for unrestricted access to nuclear sites for IAEA officials. Trump pulled out of the agreement in 2018, a move that led to the re-introduction of sanctions and to Iran’s increase in uranium enrichment. President Biden has recently attempted to renegotiate the deal, which has been difficult due to the aforementioned reasons and Iran’s increased production.

The U.S. and its allies should restrain from legitimizing the Iranian government through any more nuclear negotiations. In addition, Iran’s support of terrorists in Yemen, Syria, and Iraq and human rights abuses at home require immediate condemnation publicly and opposition through economic and military sanctions.