„We will be left with a world where Iran inches towards a nuclear weapon, does not face sufficient pressure, and has no interest in negotiations,“ wrote Goldenberg. „That means in a few years, the U.S. will be left with a stark choice: military action or living with a nuclear-armed Iran.“

It‘s a similar scenario that confronted the Obama administration before it embarked on the turgid rounds of talks that led to the current deal. Iran watchers can be forgiven for feeling a sense of deja vu.