Coping with the JCPOA: Time for a US-Israeli Plan of Action

The JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) signed between world powers and Iran on July 14, 2015 does not inde¬pendently “cut off all of Iran’s pathways to develop a nuclear weapon” as President Obama declared, nor does it pave the road for a nuclear Iran, as some Israeli officials warn. The agreement holds significant dangers, sets bad nonproliferation standards, and increases the burden on Israeli security. Nevertheless, if the next 5-8 years are used wisely, the US and Israel, together, will be able to exploit the positive aspects of the nuclear agreement and cope with its threats. To do so, we must understand the strategic implications of the agreement—nuclear and non-nu¬clear—and prepare an appropriate response.