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The Iran Nuclear Deal Isn't the Problem, Iran Is

(Atlantic) James Jeffrey and Dennis Ross - With the sanctions relief that will result from returning to compliance with the JCPOA, Tehran's troublemaking resources will increase. So we can expect more Iranian expansion in Yemen, Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon, as well as threats to neighboring states. Many in the U.S. Congress as well as leaders of Middle East states worry that the administration and its European partners will wrongly see the Iran file as "closed" because they see the threat Iran poses too narrowly, and in only nuclear terms. The regional perspective on Iran is driven by these leaders' experience with the Islamic Republic. For many in the region, there is no way to build trust with Iran because Iran has an agenda to dominate the Middle East. American officials are making commitments in private conversations with our allies in the region to not allow the nuclear file to change what the U.S. tolerates when it comes to Iran in the Middle East. The challenge will be to follow up and contest the Iranians as they directly and via proxies expand and threaten others. If we want to deter Iran's egregious actions, we must be able to show its leaders that they will pay a price. James Jeffrey, Chair of the Middle East program at the Wilson Center, is a former U.S. ambassador to Turkey and Iraq. Dennis Ross, a former special assistant to President Obama, is the counselor at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
2021-07-01 00:00:00
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