Republican Infighting as Tensions Escalate with Iran

Republican lawmakers are at an apparent impasse regarding next steps with Iran as nuclear negotiations sputter. 

Iran and President Donald Trump’s administration have been discussing potential diplomatic solutions to halt the former’snuclear development programs. 

However, recent reports suggest Iran is unwilling to concede to the US’s main requests, and every day without a‘nuclear deal’ brings Iran closer to obtaining nuclear weaponry as their nuclear development programs continue. 

Trump warned Iran that failing to reach a negotiated end to their nuclear development programs would force the US to resort to military action to dismantle nuclear infrastructure forcibly.

Trump told reporters that if the Iranians “don't make a deal, there will be bombing."

However, the increasing likelihood of the ongoing negotiations’ failure has divided Republicans on whether Trump should uphold his threats to strike Iran. 

“Everyone I know wants us to fix our own problems here at home,” said Representative Marjory Taylor Greene (R-GA).“Not bomb other countries that have nothing to do with our own self-inflicted problems.”

Conversely, Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) argued that the US could not stand by and watch as “Iran’s terrorist regime is actively working towards a nuclear weapon.”

“For the sake of our national security, the security of our allies, and millions of civilians in the region this cannot be allowed to happen,” argued Senator Cotton.

Trump has yet to comment on what approach he is leaning toward. 

For decades, it has been the policy of the US and its allies that Iran ought not to possess nuclear weapons, also referred to as weapons of mass destruction (WMD).

Whether it be via conducting military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, imposing economic sanctions, or attempting diplomatic agreements such as the failed Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, Western countries have spared no expense in blocking Iran from gaining WMDs. 

However, Iran has managed to circumvent the US and its allies’ pressure and continued developing WMDs.

Iran Watch, an organization devoted to exposing Iran’s weapons development programs, recently reported Iran is dangerously close to obtaining nuclear weapons. 

Iran Watch claimed Iran has “accomplished over 90% of the work needed to bring natural uranium to weapon-grade.”