From JCPOA to Unilateralism
A Personal and Political Struggle
As a Jewish American, I have grappled with the complexity of the Middle East for my entire life. From childhood through adulthood, I have carried a deep cultural and emotional connection to Israel—one born out of a shared history, a sense of peoplehood, and the painful legacy of persecution that led to the founding of the Israeli state. Yet, this connection has always existed in tension with my moral compass, my education in democratic values, and my responsibility to question policies that conflict with those principles. Over the years, that balance has been increasingly difficult to maintain—especially under the leadership of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and, more recently, the foreign policy decisions made by the Trump administration.
One of the most consequential developments in this ongoing struggle was the United States' withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2018. The JCPOA, often referred to as the “Iran nuclear deal,” was a landmark agreement reached in 2015 between Iran and the P5+1 powers (the U.S., U.K., France, China, Russia, and Germany) during President Barack Obama's tenure. It was crafted to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons by imposing strict limitations on its nuclear activities, reducing its enriched uranium stockpile by 98%, and allowing intrusive International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspections [1][2][3].
However, in May 2018, President Donald Trump unilaterally abandoned the JCPOA, claiming it was a "horrible, one-sided deal" despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. At the time of withdrawal, Iran was fully compliant with the agreement, as confirmed by multiple IAEA reports [1][3]. Trump's decision not only dismantled a functioning arms control regime but also pushed Iran to resume and expand its uranium enrichment, bringing it closer to nuclear breakout capability than at any point since the agreement's inception [2][4].
The consequences of this withdrawal were immediate and dire. U.S. credibility on the international stage was significantly undermined, trust between allies eroded, and tensions in the already-volatile Middle East escalated dramatically. European signatories of the deal, including the U.K., France, and Germany, struggled to salvage the agreement but faced immense difficulties without U.S. participation [4]. As a result, Iran has since enriched uranium beyond JCPOA limits and installed more advanced centrifuges, reducing the so-called "breakout time" to mere weeks [1][2].
The Rise of Unilateralism
Trump's foreign policy approach, especially toward Iran, epitomized a broader trend of unilateralism—making decisions without consulting allies, disregarding international law, and bypassing Congress. One telling example of this was the use of unmarked ICE agents in domestic immigration raids, particularly in cities like Los Angeles and Portland. These agents, clad in black tactical gear without clear identification, reportedly detained individuals using tactics that closely resembled military operations, creating widespread fear in immigrant communities and prompting civil liberties concerns [5][6][7][8].
Such tactics, emblematic of Trump-era governance, mirrored his foreign policy strategies: opaque, aggressive, and often without the proper legal or ethical oversight. A particularly troubling case was the January 2020 assassination of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, executed via drone strike in Baghdad. While Trump claimed the action was taken to prevent imminent attacks on U.S. interests, the strike was carried out without prior Congressional approval, raising serious constitutional and international law concerns [10][11].
Most recently, Trump ordered a surprise airstrike on Iran's nuclear processing facilities, again bypassing Congress. Although framed as a preemptive strike against potential Iranian aggression, no clear evidence has emerged publicly justifying such drastic action. Legal scholars and foreign policy experts have argued this constitutes a breach of the War Powers Resolution of 1973, which requires the president to seek congressional authorization for military action unless responding to a direct, immediate threat [9][11][12].
Such actions exemplify a consistent pattern: a disregard for process, international norms, and democratic accountability. Trump's decisions are too often made in echo chambers, driven by personal conviction, political expediency, or ego rather than by consultation, expert analysis, or long-term strategic planning [9][10][11].
Oversimplification of a Complex Region
Perhaps the most dangerous element of Trump's foreign policy is its gross oversimplification of the Middle East's geopolitical landscape. The region is fraught with decades of historical grievances, colonial legacies, sectarian divisions, and competing national interests. Leaders like Jimmy Carter, Anwar Sadat, and Yitzhak Rabin devoted lifetimes to negotiating peace in this fragile region, often at great personal and political cost [13][14][15][16]. It is delusional to assume, as Trump has suggested, that a few precision airstrikes or a symbolic truce could unravel decades of tension.
Trump's recent announcement of a “truce between Iran and Israel" following the bombings is hauntingly reminiscent of President George W. Bush's infamous "Mission Accomplished" speech aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln in May 2003, which prematurely declared the end of major combat operations in Iraq [17][18][21]. That claim proved disastrously false, as Iraq descended into prolonged insurgency and chaos—a reminder of how misleading political theater can overshadow grim realities on the ground [18][19][20].
The parallel is chilling. Like Bush, Trump presents a contrived narrative of victory and peace where none exists. Israeli and Iranian officials themselves have refuted the notion of a formal truce, highlighting the disconnection between Trump's claims and the reality of continuing hostilities [18][21].
A Personal Reckoning
As someone with Jewish heritage, this confluence of deception, aggression, and politicization of the Israeli-Iranian conflict strikes a particularly painful chord. My connection to Israel has never been blind. I've admired its resilience, technological innovation, and vibrant democratic traditions. But I have also criticized its government's increasingly right-wing, nationalistic policies—especially under Netanyahu, whose alliance with ultra-Orthodox and far-right parties has alienated many liberal Jews around the world.
This estrangement deepens when I confront the Israeli government's inhumane treatment of Palestinians in the Occupied Territories. The reality is undeniable: mass displacement, home demolitions, restricted access to medical care, water, and electricity, collective punishment policies, arbitrary detentions, and military occupation that violates international law. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the West Bank is not the product of some unfortunate natural disaster—it is the result of policy decisions that dehumanize Palestinians and perpetuate a system of apartheid. The current destruction in Gaza, marked by the bombing of schools, hospitals, refugee camps, and the systematic killing of doctors, journalists, and children, underscores the horrific reality that the invocation of "terrorism" has become a smokescreen for genocide. No lasting peace can be achieved if Israel continues to deny basic dignity and civil rights to millions of people under its control. The moral cost of ignoring this suffering is too high, and for those of us who care deeply about Jewish values, silence is no longer an option.
And yet, incredibly, Trump has managed to bring the conversation to an even more dystopian level. His reported desire to replace the Gaza Strip with an elite luxury resort—an idea allegedly floated as part of his so-called “peace vision” for the region—reflects a shocking level of detachment and cruelty. To envision a war-torn, densely populated region, where over two million people live under siege and frequent bombardment, as a blank canvas for golf courses, casinos, and yachts, is a grotesque demonstration of both privilege and ignorance. This isn't diplomacy—it's colonial fantasy. Such thinking not only disregards the basic rights of Palestinians, but also trivializes the profound suffering they endure daily under occupation and blockade. It's offensive to anyone who values justice, and to advocate for it in the name of peace is an insult to reason itself.
Witnessing the U.S. serve as an enabler of these hardline policies—through military support, vetoes at the United Nations, and now unauthorized military action—feels like a betrayal. It begs the question: What is the true cost of this alliance? And at what point does loyalty become complicity?
These questions become even more urgent when considered against the backdrop of domestic crises within the U.S. Infrastructure is crumbling. Inequality is growing. Public education is underfunded. Healthcare remains inaccessible to millions. Meanwhile, billions are allocated toward overseas military campaigns and weapons systems with little oversight or measurable success [22][23][24][25][26].
Perhaps the most tragic expression of this misallocation is the reduction of USAID funding, which has historically supported humanitarian aid, public health programs, and disaster relief around the globe. These cuts have weakened America's soft power, diminished its standing at the United Nations, and undermined its ability to respond to pandemics, famine, and displacement crises—areas where real human lives hang in the balance [22][23][24][25][26].
Truth, Transparency, and the Future
If there's one lesson to be drawn from the collapse of the JCPOA and the rise of Trumpian unilateralism, it is this: Effective foreign policy must be rooted in truth, transparency, and humility. When leaders bypass facts, manipulate narratives, or ignore international norms, they endanger not only global stability but also the moral credibility of the nations they represent.
The Middle East does not need more bombs, missiles, or drones.
Why 50501?
This article directly aligns with the core mission and values of the 50501 movement which is dedicated to advocating for democracy, opposing authoritarian actions, and holding our government accountable to the will of the people. The 50501 movement recognizes that domestic and international policies are often interconnected and that advocating for democratic principles requires addressing injustices wherever they occur. The publication of this article aims to broaden the conversation about responsible governance and ethical foreign policy. We believe that by presenting the facts about critical issues, we can empower individuals to become part of the movement for change.
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