Ilan Berman, author of the newly-published book Taking on Tehran, held the Middle East’s chief nuclear power under scrutiny as he addressed the United States’ growing foreign policy conflict. Shaken by revolution in 1979, Iran has since developed a cocksure defiance against American foreign policy in the Middle East, wielding its ever-growing nuclear capabilities with confidence.
Berman first explained the opinions of the American people today on how to solve the Iranian problem, then dismissed them while stating the flaws in those proposals. Such diverse theories included verbal diplomacy, immediate military action, and deterrent passive behavior. Rather, he continued, the most important actions the U.S. can take to quell the agitation and aggression of nuclear Iran in the long-term are increasing economic pressure on their importation of petroleum for gasoline, and exploiting their miserable human rights record. The present Iranian regime relies upon fear to safeguard its power over the people, and also imports much of the gasoline so vital to its economy. Exploiting those two political pressure points would bring a victory for American foreign policy.
Berman also addressed the need for America to expand its foreign intelligence capabilities, as an introductory step towards any action against Iran. With deeper knowledge of Iran’s government factions, military structure, and internal dynamics, the U.S. would possess the information needed to conduct a successful operation against the complex regime.
Also, Berman added, the U.S. has to do a better job of reaching out and communicating with the Iranian people. Iran’s government must respect our knowledge of what their future plans are and have heard precisely what our response as a country will be to those actions. In reaching out to the Iranian people, the electorate, America would be reaching those persons who voted the present government into office, and thus would be affecting the very foundations of the regime.
Coercive diplomacy must become the focal point of U.S. foreign policy towards Iran, concluded Berman at the Heritage Foundation on Tuesday. In addition to dealing directly with the Iranian government, economy, and people, the U.S. must also isolate Iran from its beneficiaries in ballistic technology, such as the Hezbollah terrorist group. If a more potent policy than diplomacy is needed, then America may risk military action, though the operation should be complex and well-planned in order to deal successfully with the factions and politics in the country.
Overall, Berman revealed that in order for a solution to be implemented in U.S.-Iranian diplomatic relations, a fundamental change must take place in our present mode of inaction and indecisiveness. Well-planned and intricate economic and social policies will prove far more effective in the long-term than stale talks and military maneuvers centered upon the present situation.
Matt Hadro is an intern at the American Journalism Center, a training program run by Accuracy in Media and Accuracy in Academia.
