It is time to demand that Iran stop seeking a nuclear bomb and pursue a peaceful path. Allowing Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon would embolden the Islamic republic, prompting the government to increase its sponsorship of terrorism and make good on its offer to share nuclear know-how with terrorists who could strike anywhere, at any time. The time has come for severe sanctions as a means to get Iran to stop its nuclear program. The international community must take urgent action now to peacefully stop the threat of a nuclear Iran. Following are ways to curb the threat and avoid war: • Until Iran halts its nuclear program, the international community should stop doing business with companies that supply refined petroleum to Iran. Due to a lack of oil refinery facilities in Iran, it must import 40 percent of its refined fuel. Halting such imports into Iran will help discourage Iran’s pursuit of a nuclear weapon and its support of terrorism. Iran is currently the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism. • Governments that care about security and peace must ban banks from providing credit, insurance and loan repayment guarantees to foreign oil companies that supply fuel to Iran or help expand the country’s domestic refining capacity. • The international community should prohibit insurance companies from insuring tankers going to Iran. The majority of tankers carrying gasoline to Iran are insured by Lloyds of London, a company that should be forbidden from helping the world’s largest state sponsor of terror. • Freeze more Iranian bank assets. In 2007, Bank Melli, Iran’s largest state-owned bank, cashed in its dollar assets for Euros. The Iranian banking strategy depends on the Euro. In June 2008, all of the EU’s 27 member-states agreed to freeze any assets held by Bank Melli in their jurisdictions. Those EU measures, taken in 2008, signaled growing impatience with Iranian foot-dragging in negotiations over halting uranium enrichment. But as Iran continues to pursue its enrichment program, more must be done. The French and German governments must divest their large holdings in Bank Melli Iran. • Issue travel bans. All Iranian government employees and their families should have their foreign assets frozen. They should also be subjected to travel bans until Iran is verified to have stopped its nuclear program and support of terrorism. • Ban arms sales to Iran. In 2006, the United States called on all countries to stop arms exports to Iran, but much more must be done to verify that it has occurred. • Increase targeted broadcasting into Iran through various communications channels including Radio Free Europe, Voice of America, the BBC and especially private broadcasting entities. Support democracy activists by broadcasting events inside of Iran so that activists can more easily learn what is occurring in the various cities and towns in Iran. Ban Iranian commercial airlines from entering European Union countries for failure to meet international safety standards. It’s not too late. The time to act is now!