Iran nuclear agreement was a step backward

If there is one thing I learned from serving 23 years as a U.S. Navy SEAL Commander, it’s never negotiate with your enemies from a position of weakness.

The recent Iranian “interim” agreement negotiated by the Obama administration did just that and once again demonstrated America’s willingness to lead from behind.

Any negotiation with a country that has supported international terrorism and has repeatedly threatened to wipe Israel off the map should have been straight forward — immediately stop your enrichment program and your pursuit of nuclear weapons in return for removal of economic sanctions.

Unfortunately, what the administration negotiated as “a first step” allows Iran to maintain their “right” to enrich and thus continue to develop their nuclear capability. In return, the effective sanctions that brought Iran to the table were lifted on their principle source of revenue, petroleum products.

Secretary of State John Kerry emphatically stated that there is nothing in the text of the agreement that gives Iran the right to enrich. Meanwhile, the Iranian Foreign Minister states that the agreement in fact validates Iran’s right to enrich and thus possess nuclear capability. Are we to believe this was an oversight, that the language was not crystal clear on the key point of the negotiation?

The administration’s “first step” was in fact a few steps backwards. Since when do we trust Iran to do what’s right?

Ryan Zinke, of Whitefish, is a retired Navy commander and former Montana state senator. He is a candidate for the U.S. House, running as a Republican.