While the Globe’s Jan. 1 editorial recognizes some of the Obama administration’s foreign policy deficiencies, it nevertheless advocates staying on track with the administration’s disastrous Iran nuclear accord (“Obama’s foreign policy to-do list for 2016’’).

The problems with this nuclear agreement are evident, even from Secretary of State John Kerry’s own statements, namely that at the start of negotiations with Iran, the nuclear breakout time was two months, which this agreement would extend to one year.

A two-month breakout time is tantamount to Iranian possession of a nuclear weapon. The goal of a one-year breakout time simply enables Iran to go nuclear at a time of its choosing, once sanctions are lifted and it collects $100 billion of frozen assets. What this agreement then accomplishes, under a best-case scenario, is to assure Iran that it can emerge as a dangerous nuclear power, with replenished financial resources, once it agrees to a short delay.

This scenario assumes that Iran does not cheat, which, in light of recent Iranian ballistic missile tests and rocket fire within 1,500 yards of a US aircraft carrier, is wishful thinking. That the Globe supports such an agreement with the world’s leading terrorist nation is surprising.

Jack Schuss

Newton