The US is considering a new nuclear deal with Iran, but Tehran's refusal to recognize Israel poses a significant obstacle. Iran is willing to endure economic hardship, including a US naval blockade, rather than acknowledge the Jewish state.
What happened
In 2015, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was negotiated, but it did not include recognition of Israel. Then-Senator Marco Rubio suggested an amendment to the deal that would require Iran to recognize Israel, but it was rejected by Secretary of State John Kerry.
Now, as Secretary of State, Rubio has the opportunity to renegotiate the deal and include recognition of Israel as a condition. Iran's hatred for Israel is so strong that it is willing to suffer economically rather than acknowledge the country's existence.
The previous JCPOA deal was flawed, and Rubio's new proposal must avoid similar mistakes. One such mistake was the codification of an Iranian fatwa that prohibited the development of nuclear weapons. However, fatwas can be reversed, and Iran has been known to reverse previous fatwas, such as one against developing chemical weapons.
