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Hold Iran to the Language in the Deal
(Wall Street Journal) Alan M. Dershowitz - The following commitment is made in the nuclear deal: "Iran reaffirms that under no circumstances will Iran ever seek, develop or acquire any nuclear weapons." It sets no time limit on the prohibition against Iran's acquisition of nuclear weapons. Was this language merely hortatory or was it an integral and enforceable component of the agreement? The American public has the right to know whether this deal is intended to prevent Iran from ever obtaining a nuclear arsenal, or merely postponing such a catastrophic eventuality. Congress has the power to resolve that ambiguity by enacting legislation declaring that Iran's reaffirmation that it will never obtain nuclear weapons is an integral part of the agreement and represents enduring U.S. policy. It may be too late to change the words of the deal, but it is certainly not too late for Congress to insist that Iran comply fully with its provisions. Congress should now enact a law authorizing the president (and his successors) to employ military force to prevent Iran from ever developing or acquiring nuclear weapons. In this way, Iran will be on notice that the president or a successor already has the legislative authorization to act. The writer is a professor of law emeritus at Harvard Law School.