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The Attack on Iran Is a Watershed for U.S. Policy
(Washington Institute for Near East Policy) Robert Satloff - Iran's direct missile and drone attacks on Israel in 2024 represented a major strategic blunder for Iran, exposing its national assets and citizens to external attack for the first time since the Iran-Iraq War. The recent attack on Iran is a watershed for U.S. policy, redefining red lines for potential U.S. military action. Previously, there was friction between the U.S. and Israel over their respective thresholds for military operations to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, but the Trump administration's decision to complement Israel's attacks effectively closed this gap. The result is that Washington now "owns" the policy of prevention. Further U.S. military action may be required to convince Tehran that a diplomatic agreement will safeguard its regime more than a swift breakout toward a nuclear weapon would. The writer is executive director of The Washington Institute.