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Unforced Error

The Risks of Confrontation with Iran


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8

Qualities

  • Controversial
  • Analytical
  • Hot Topic

Recommendation

US President Donald Trump has made no secret of his confrontational attitude toward Iran and his hostility toward the Iran nuclear deal, which he touted as “the worst deal ever negotiated.” Besides criticizing some of the agreement's provisions, the Trump administration has also expressed strong concerns about the country’s long-range missile program and its support of terrorist groups and proxies across the Middle East. Yet if Trump wants to chart a more hawkish course on Iran, what are his options? Two foreign policy experts at the Cato Institute, a conservative US think tank, lay out the different approaches the United States could pursue and weigh their likely consequences. 

Take-Aways

  • The Trump administration is determined to take a more confrontational approach to Iran. However, the US's four main policy options are likely to backfire.
  • Reimposing economic sanctions will attract little support from US allies and won't change Iran’s behavior.
  • Trying to weaken Iran’s regional influence by targeting its proxies will leave US troops in the Middle East vulnerable to reprisals.

About the Authors

John Glaser is director of foreign policy studies at the Cato Institute, where Emma Ashford is a research fellow.