Voice of America (VOA) reported last week that Washington was facing renewed concerns from its Arab and Israeli allies over its diplomatic approach toward Iran, amid reemphasized declarations by top Iranian leaders that they will refuse to dismantle any aspects of the Islamic republic’s nuclear program.

The dynamics had already reenergized domestic moves to assert a strong Congressional voice in the diplomatic process, a position supported by lopsided majorities of American voters.

VOA specifically cited concerns, expressed over many months by Washington’s traditional Middle East allies, that allowing Iran to continue enriching uranium under a final agreement would functionally enable Tehran to race across the nuclear finish line at will.

U.S. officials involved in talks on Iran’s nuclear program say there is general agreement that Iran will ultimately be allowed to continue enriching some uranium for civilian research at levels far below weapons-grade.

Netanyahu said “that would be a grave error.” “It would leave Iran as a threshold nuclear power,” he said. “It would enable Iran to rapidly develop nuclear weapons at a time when the world’s attention is focused elsewhere.”

The U.S.-based Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) has calculated that putting Iran’s atomic program beyond use for weaponization would require, alongside other steps, minimally removing 15,000 centrifuges and shutting down its uranium enriching underground military bunker at Fordow. The Obama administration has indicated that it nonetheless foresees allowing Iran to continue enriching uranium under an envisioned agreement. The Iranians for their part declared last Friday that nuclear talks were going well.

[Photo: The White House / YouTube]