U.S., key partners should overhaul Iran nuclear deal

There is no question the Iran nuclear accord reached during the Obama administration is a bad deal for America and the rest of the world. Because it is. The question is whether it’s better than nothing. Or, in the alternative, whether it can be “fixed” through concerted pressure of the United States and key allies who hold economic leverage over Tehran.

President Donald Trump is said to be leaning toward pulling out of the deal by the May 12 deadline — and key allies like French President Emmanuel Macron who want the U.S. to stay in now publicly acknowledge there are major flaws that need to be fixed.

Trump has been his usual bombastic self, but reasonable voices like former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice say this is a bad agreement and pulling out might not be the worst thing we could do.

In a nutshell, in 2015 Iran agreed to give up elements of a nuclear weapons program — which it said it never had — until sunset clauses that expire in 2025 and 2030. It also would agree to inspections. In return, the mullahs got a ton of cash and the lifting of sanctions by the West.

First, the inspections definitely aren’t of the “any time anywhere” variety. There are notice provisions and other restrictions, including blocking inspections at military sites.

Meanwhile, the Iranians have pushed ahead with development of an intercontinental ballistic missile program — so when they are allowed under the treaty to develop a nuke, assuming they aren’t doing so now clandestinely, they will have a sophisticated delivery system in place.

As for the hope the Iranians would follow a new path? Nope, they’ve used the proceeds of the deal not to help the Iranian people but to foster terrorism and military adventurism from Damascus to Yemen. If it appears Tehran is moving toward a nuclear weapons program, the Saudis, Egyptians and others would be crazy not to do the same.

As Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu’s stunning intelligence revelations made clear this week, Iran lied its way into the deal by insisting it had no nuclear weapons program or even aspirations. Even proponents of the deal say they never believed that. It should surprise no one that the mullahs lied and still have every intention of acquiring nukes. The question is when and how.

And some proponents say Netanyahu’s disclosures show the need for new inspections, possibly at never-visited sites.

The agreement wasn’t submitted to Congress because it would never have passed, but the administration is required to recertify it periodically. Trump has indicated he won’t but has appeared to be receptive to Macron and others who want to keep it but actually give it teeth and address the ballistic missile issue.

Trump is right to confront this. He should work with key partners to toughen up this deal — which certainly is preferable — or move beyond it.

The Iranian nuclear weapons clock is ticking.