In Perplexing Move, US Approves Natural Uranium for Iran

In the modern era of fake news, I wish this title was from The Onion or a less than credible news source, but, according to an Associated Press exclusive report from January 9, 2017, the United States has approved a “huge shipment of natural uranium from Russia” to Iran “in a move approved by the outgoing U.S. administration and other governments seeking to keep Tehran committed to a landmark nuclear pact.”

AP reports, based on two senior diplomatic sources who demanded to remain anonymous, that “116 metric tons (nearly 130 tons) of natural uranium” has been approved to be transferred, which according to the Institute of Science and International Security is enough to make 10 simple nuclear bombs.

This nuclear material can be used for medical and other non-military means, but the AP story also acknowledges that Iran could store the materials for a future military purpose once some of the restrictions are sunset in 10 years. Or, I suspect, Iran could use it for a military purpose if President-elect Donald Trump rips up the agreement, which he can do on Day 1 of his presidency since the Iran Deal is not U.S. law. It is only an Executive Action.

The fact that the United States is putting faith in trusting Iran with this material while they continue to act belligerently towards our Navy perplexes me. And the fact that the United States is continuing to put faith in Russia, who has acted as a destabilizing agent in Syria and who transferred “nuclear-capable ballistic missiles” to Syria — according to recently released Israeli intelligence — beyond perplexes me.

This argument transcends politics. It isn’t about what Russia did or did not do with hacking the DNC, leading an information warfare campaign during our 2016 elections, and/or potentially leveraging incriminating financial and personal information on President-elect Trump — it is about the safety and security of thousands of innocent people that could be threatened by a dirty bomb in the hands of an Iranian proxy Hezbollah terrorist, in the hands of the Assad regime, or in the hands of any radical Islamic jihadist.

Jason Langsner is an active member of the American Jewish professional community. Langsner formerly ran the digital strategy for B'nai B'rith International, the Global Voice of the Jewish Community, and participated in the Israel Diplomatic Fellowship program at the Embassy of Israel in Washington, D.C. He has been featured in The Times of Israel, The Jerusalem Post, Haaretz, the Israel Video Network, Washington Jewish Week, eJewishPhilanthropy.com, and other publications. For more of his reports, Go Here Now.