US Must Reassess Iran Policy as 'Super-Maximum Pressure' Fails
The United States must reassess its approach to Iran, as the current 'super-maximum pressure' policy has backfired, leading to a more unstable Middle East and empowering hardline factions within Iran.
Since the US withdrawal from the JCPOA in 2018, Iran has escalated its nuclear activities, missile development, and proxy attacks. The 2017 National Security Strategy and 2018 National Defense Strategy both identify Iran as a regional threat.
Over the past four years, the US has taken an aggressive stance with Iran, imposing harsh economic sanctions and military actions. This approach, however, has not achieved its intended goal of pushing Iran back to the negotiating table for a more comprehensive deal. Instead, it has strengthened hardline elements within Iran, with Ebrahim Raisi, a candidate backed by the Revolutionary Guard, likely to win the June 2021 presidential election.
The US must pivot away from the ineffective super-maximum pressure policy before domestic political realities in Iran further prevent diplomatic engagement. An irregular warfare campaign could better impose costs on Iran, encouraging changes in Iranian behavior and maximizing the likelihood of political success for moderate Iranian politicians.
