Prior to the 1979 Iranian revolution, Persian Jews enjoyed tolerance and prosperity, as they did for much of ancient history. Yet the current regime’s hatred of Jews and the Jewish state is also not exceptional, as Lawrence Franklin writes:

When Zoroastrianism was declared the official state religion during the Sassanid Dynasty (224–651 CE), the plight of Iran’s Jews deteriorated. This fusion of state and religion gave Zoroastrian clerics more political power than the monarchy. It also led to the enforcement of intolerant uniform rules of worship for all of Persia’s citizenry. . . . The Sassanids burned synagogues and outlawed the celebration of the day of rest, Shabbat. One Sassanid monarch, [referred to in the Talmud as] “Feroz the Wicked,” had most of the Jews of Isfahan murdered.

Later, in most of the Safavid (1502–1736) and Qajar (1781–1925) dynastic eras, the monarchs’ relationship with Iran’s Jews was at best problematic. . . . For centuries, there were forced conversions, the closing of synagogues, and destruction of Hebrew books. Outward signs distinguished Jews from the rest of Iran’s “loyal” citizens. Throughout the Safavid era, Iran’s Jews were forced to wear colored hats and non-matching shoes. . . . Attacks occurred: Muslim imams whipped up their followers in anti-Jewish diatribes.

In 2003, the Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, spooked by the American display of might in Iraq, decided to destroy or surrender his entire nuclear program. Informed observers have suggested that the deal he made with the U.S. should serve as a model for any agreement with Iran. Robert Joseph provides some useful background:

Gaddafi had convinced himself that Libya would be next on the U.S. target list after Iraq. There was no reason or need to threaten Libya with bombing as Gaddafi was quick to tell almost every visitor that he did not want to be Saddam Hussein. The images of Saddam being pulled from his spider hole . . . played on his mind.

President Bush’s goal was to have Libya serve as an alternative model to Iraq. Instead of war, proliferators would give up their nuclear programs in exchange for relief from economic and political sanctions.

Any outcome that permits Iran to enrich uranium at any level will fail the one standard that President Trump has established: Iran will not be allowed to have a nuclear weapon. Limiting enrichment even to low levels will allow Iran to break out of the agreement at any time, no matter what the agreement says.

Iran is not a normal government that observes the rules of international behavior or fair “dealmaking.” This is a regime that relies on regional terror and brutal repression of its citizens to stay in power. It has a long history of using negotiations to expand its nuclear program. Its negotiating tactics are clear: extend the negotiations as long as possible and meet any concession with more demands.