Why the Iran deal will make us safer

I am 19 years old, which means that I have never known a world where the United States viewed Iran as anything but the bitterest of enemies. Our relationship with Iran has been fueled by a cancerous cycle of mistrust and aggression. Today, we have been given an opportunity to break that cycle. Iran’s nuclear program has long been a stumbling block to any attempts at reconciliation, but hard-fought diplomacy, multilateral leadership, and international pressure have paved the way to a comprehensive, verifiable deal that could be a turning point in achieving regional and global security. 

The nuclear deal between the international community and Iran marks a major turning point in the fight to eliminate nuclear weapons. It also has the potential to quell the instability that has characterized the Middle East for decades. But the deal with Iran, and the historic opportunity it represents, is in jeopardy. The political posturing of our members of Congress threatens to derail our best path toward peace and security in the Middle East.  

{mosads}Currently nine countries have nuclear weapons. These weapons, many hundreds of times more deadly than the ones dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, can destroy entire cities, killing hundreds of thousands of people in a matter of seconds. Many of the 16,000 nuclear weapons in the world today remain on high-alert, ready to be launched at a moment’s notice. It was during my studies in international relations at American University that I realized nuclear weapons still have the power to morph our world into a hellish, unlivable landscape. It is that horrifying potential that keeps me up at night, and makes this deal so critical, not just for our relationship with Iran, but for the safety of our future.  

Nine countries hold the fate of humanity in their hands, and this deal is our best prospect to prevent Iran from becoming the tenth. Today, we have the rare opportunity to take a significant step toward global zero, turning the risk of nuclear proliferation into a step toward nuclear weapons elimination. It is the only way to significantly reduce the risk of a nuclear weapons arms race in the Middle East. This deal cuts off all pathways to a nuclear weapon, and ensures Iran’s nuclear program can only be used for peaceful purposes. It enacts unimpeachable verification measures guaranteeing Iran cannot develop weapons grade nuclear material, by cutting the number its number of centrifuges while reducing its uranium stock by 98 percent. The international community will have 24/7 access to verify Iran is upholding its side of the deal. Most importantly, the agreement is a critical step toward zero. 

In the past, when I have discussed the issue of nuclear weapons with family, friends, and professors, many have pointed to the Iranian nuclear program to justify their opposition to disarmament. They said Iran would never agree to freeze its nuclear program, let alone roll it back. This deal proves that our current nuclear configuration is not set in stone. Passionate work can and will produce huge victories for the non-proliferation movement. A working deal with Iran can provide a framework for pressuring rogue nuclear states to halt their nuclear programs through tough, multilateral diplomacy. With a proven method of robust negotiation under our belt, we can then focus our attention on reducing and ultimately eliminating the global stockpile.  

Our collective security is too important to be risked on political games. If Congress rejects this deal, Iran’s nuclear program will not remain frozen, and there won’t be daily inspections of Iran’s nuclear facilities. If Congress rejects the deal, we lose our chance for peace. There is no viable alternative to a deal. Sanctions have not made us safe. War will not make us safe. Diplomacy is the best course of action to achieve a nuclear-free Iran, and someday, a nuclear-free world.  

We have the chance to take a positive step forward in our relationship with Iran and towards the goal of global zero. I am working, with my fellow members of Global Zero, to shape the future that I want for myself, my children, and for generations to come. That is why I am calling on Sens. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Mark Warner (D-Va.) to join me in seizing this historic opportunity and support the final deal with Iran. When it comes to nuclear weapons, we need to let diplomacy work.

Thorne is a college student at American University and Global Zero Action Corps leader. She was assisted by Ward Wilson, senior fellow and director of the Rethinking Nuclear Weapons Project at The British American Security Information Council.