Relations have always been complicated between the United States and Iran, and things were not made any simpler by the United Nations’ recent declaration that Iran might be dangerously close to developing nuclear weapons. Iranian representatives denied the accusations, according to USA TODAY but the United Nations nuclear agency IAEA stated that Iran is violating the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and might be within one year of developing nuclear weapons, which would put them in a dominant position in an increasingly unstable region of the world. 

With economic and political interests, and important allies in the Middle East, the U.S. must consider what type of action suits its own interests, as well as those of the rest of the world.

Many argue America’s interest in the Middle East comes down to oil. However, the reality is that the Middle East is also home to crucial U.S. allies, including Israel- which Iran’s President Ahmadinejad has in the past pledged to “wipe off the map,” according to a 2005 New York Times article.

An Iranian nuclear missile could be detrimental to U.S.-Middle East relations. While America historically has supported nuclear non-proliferation, an Iranian nuclear presence would mark the first time that such a weapon fell into the hands of a theocratic dictatorship with extreme views that are hostile to our own interests.

The question, then, becomes: what are our options? Few exist, and the options we do have carry the potential for huge consequences. The most peaceful option, and the most popular among Americans, is diplomacy. However, the historical relationship between our country and Iran shows that in most diplomatic conversations, Iran will make unreasonable requests to which the United States will never agree. 

The second option to consider is placing economic sanctions on Iran- the current stance officially taken by leaders in Washington, as well as by leaders of other Western nations. Sanctions would make it clear to Iran that the United States did not support the country’s current actions in any way, but history shows that sanctions are unlikely to be effective and that additional action would need to be taken.

One remaining option for the United States is to bomb Iranian nuclear facilities and secret underground laboratories. It is likely our government knows of the locations of these facilities, but total bombing, or even dispatching ground troops, would come with massive, unknown consequences. 

Though such U.S. military action might destroy whatever work Iran has completed towards developing the weapons, it would also give Iran an excuse to use whatever weapons it already has available to attack Israel. Additionally, the United States’ action would be tantamount to a declaration of war – something Americans want to avoid after only just ending the mess in Iraq.   

Therefore, the only feasible option left might be to participate in covert operations aimed at sabotaging Iranian nuclear aspirations. In pursuing such a course, the U.S. would be open to accusations that it is engaging in terrorism.

But, where the target is military, the goal is to keep nuclear weapons from hostile hands and the only effective alternative is outright bombing, is this a fair criticism? Each of the alternatives appears to be either ineffective or far more dangerous.

Numerous events have occurred in Iran recently that appear to be attempted sabotages of the country’s nuclear infrastructure and intellectual capital. In the past three years, three Iranian nuclear scientists have been killed, an explosion occurred at an Iranian military compound and a virus spread throughout Iran’s nuclear facility computers, destroying significant research, according to CNN. Iran has blamed both Israel and the United States. 

While neither country has admitted to having any involvement, it is possible that the U.S. government has had at least some part. If this turns out to be the case, let us not be quick to judge our country as having the moral equivalent to terrorists. 

A military nuclear infrastructure exists ultimately to hurt or destroy the innocent, and in the case of Iran, is owned by a government which intends to obliterate Israel. There is no denying that action needs to be taken, and all options should be considered in full.
Under our current circumstances, however, covert sabotage may be our best available option.

Booey Mittelstadt is a freshman film-television-digital media and political science double major from Chattanooga, Tenn.