{"id":2168847,"date":"2024-02-06T06:27:02","date_gmt":"2024-02-06T11:27:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/middle-east-mirage-uss-muddled-iran-strategy-under-the-microscope-as-conflict-looms\/"},"modified":"2024-02-06T06:31:10","modified_gmt":"2024-02-06T11:31:10","slug":"middle-east-mirage-uss-muddled-iran-strategy-under-the-microscope-as-conflict-looms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/middle-east-mirage-uss-muddled-iran-strategy-under-the-microscope-as-conflict-looms\/","title":{"rendered":"US&#8217;s unclear Iran strategy scrutinized as conflict approaches in the Middle East"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fmiddle-east-mirage-uss-muddled-iran-strategy-under-the-microscope-as-conflict-looms%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2168847&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>The Biden Administration&#8217;s Foreign\u2062 Policy in the Middle East Needs a Strategic Rethink<\/h2>\n<p>The Biden administration&#8217;s approach to foreign \u200cpolicy, particularly in the Middle East, is in need of a\u200c strategic overhaul and fresh ideas. In this\u2063 captivating series,\u200d Middle East Mirage, we will delve into how the administration has fallen short in its\u200b engagement with Iran, handling the Israel-Hamas conflict and the pursuit of a\u2064 two-state solution, as\u200c well as the much-needed reform within the United Nations, specifically the UNRWA. Part One of this \u200cseries will \u2064examine the administration&#8217;s lack of a coherent strategy for dealing with \u200dIran.<\/p>\n<h3>A Failed\u200b Promise and a Lack of Direction<\/h3>\n<p>Four \u200cyears ago, then-candidate Joe Biden campaigned on reentering the Iran nuclear agreement, which his predecessor, President Donald Trump, had dramatically withdrawn from, breaking with the foreign \u2064policy of the Obama \u200dadministration.<\/p>\n<p>However, as\u200c Biden now seeks a second term, progress on the\u2062 nuclear agreement has come to a standstill. The administration has faced criticism for unfreezing billions of dollars in Iranian assets, and there appears to be no clear strategy for\u200d dealing with Iran, \u2063the primary antagonist in the Middle East.\u2064 Adding to the complexity is the looming possibility of an unwanted war \u200dwith an emboldened Tehran.<\/p>\n<p>According to Matthew Kroenig, senior director of the\u2064 Atlantic Council&#8217;s Scowcroft Center, the administration did not develop a clear strategy for engaging with Tehran. He states, &#8220;I think that the Biden\u2063 administration came in \u200b [with an] Iran strategy and Middle East\u2062 strategy [that] was essentially that they were going to reenter the nuclear deal \u200bthat was going to stabilize\u200d relations with Iran in \u200bthe Middle East, and then that would allow them\u200b to focus on China \u200dand climate and other priorities. That didn&#8217;t \u200cwork out. They didn&#8217;t\u2062 get back into the deal. And I think they don&#8217;t yet have a new strategy for the region.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The Iran nuclear deal, agreed upon by Obama in 2015 and subsequently abandoned by Trump in 2018, was \u200bmeant\u200b to be a stepping stone towards a larger resolution. However, it failed to bring about the desired transformation, \u2063as highlighted by Alex Vatanka, the director of the Iran program at \u2063the Middle East Institute. He argues that neither Trump nor Biden has had a comprehensive Iran policy, and the \u200cUnited States has consistently avoided dealing with the issue, opting to kick \u200dthe can down the road.<\/p>\n<h3>A \u200cControversial Deal and Escalating Tensions<\/h3>\n<p>Last year, the Biden\u2062 administration agreed to release $6 billion of frozen Iranian funds, intended solely for \u200dhumanitarian \u200dpurposes, in exchange for \u2063the release of several Americans held\u2062 in Iranian prisons. However, \u200bconservatives criticized the deal, expressing concerns that the funds could indirectly support anti-U.S. activities, despite the administration&#8217;s assurances that they would not be used for illicit purposes.<\/p>\n<p>Retired U.S. Central Command head Gen. Frank McKenzie emphasizes that Iran&#8217;s primary objectives in its foreign policy are regime preservation, the destruction of Israel, and the removal of \u200bU.S. forces from the Middle East. He argues that the United States needs to clearly define its red lines to deter Iran&#8217;s actions.<\/p>\n<h3>The Aftermath of the Hamas Attacks and Escalating Conflict<\/h3>\n<p>The recent\u2063 Hamas attacks on Israel have further complicated the calculus of \u2062U.S. policy towards Iran. Tehran&#8217;s support \u2062for various militia and militant groups in the Middle East, collectively known as the &#8220;axis of resistance,&#8221; has intensified tensions with the U.S., the Western world, and Israel.<\/p>\n<p>Israel has declared \u2062an all-out war against Hamas and has\u2064 also initiated limited combat against Hezbollah, a more sophisticated and larger \u2064terrorist group based\u200c near its northern border in Lebanon.\u2062 The U.S. has provided support to Israel in\u2064 an effort to prevent a wider conflict, but Iran&#8217;s proxies in the region have \u200cother \u2062plans.<\/p>\n<p>Iran supports \u2062multiple militias\u200b in Iraq and \u200bSyria, which have carried \u200bout\u2064 numerous\u200b attacks\u2062 against\u200d U.S. forces \u200csince mid-October. The Iranian-supported Houthis in Yemen have also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/u-s-forces-sink-houthi-boats-in-red-sea-pentagon-says\/\" title=\"Pentagon: US Forces Sink Houthi Boats in Red Sea\">targeted commercial vessels<\/a> in the region&#8217;s waterways. Despite limited U.S. airstrikes and joint strikes with allies, the attacks have not ceased.<\/p>\n<h3>The Need \u200dfor a Proactive Approach<\/h3>\n<p>Experts argue that the administration needs to adopt a more proactive approach to deter these groups from continuing their attacks. Brian Carter, an expert with the American Enterprise\u200b Institute, emphasizes the importance of striking what these groups \u200chold dear to create fear and deter \u200bfurther aggression.<\/p>\n<p>While \u200bthe Biden\u2063 administration\u2062 holds Iran responsible for the actions of \u200dits proxies, it remains unclear whether Tehran is directly ordering these\u2064 attacks or if the groups are acting independently. However, the stakes are high for Iran, as \u200cits future as a state could be jeopardized if it\u2063 loses control over\u2064 its network of proxies.<\/p>\n<p>In conclusion, the \u200bBiden administration&#8217;s foreign policy \u2062in the Middle East, particularly regarding Iran, requires a strategic rethink. The lack of a clear strategy and the \u200cescalation of \u200ctensions with Iran&#8217;s proxies have highlighted the need for a proactive approach to deter \u200bfurther aggression. The administration must address these challenges and develop a comprehensive and effective strategy for the region.<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> How should the \u200bBiden administration \u200daddress the criticisms of lacking clear direction and failing to address underlying \u2062issues in its \u2063response to the Israel-Hamas conflict?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Ious militant groups, including Hamas, has been\u200b a key concern for the United States and its allies in the region. The Biden administration&#8217;s\u2064 response\u2062 to\u2064 the Israel-Hamas conflict has been\u200c criticized for lacking a clear\u2063 direction\u2062 and \u200bfailing \u200bto address the underlying issues\u2064 that fuel the ongoing \u200ctensions.<\/p>\n<p>Many <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/lingering-national-guard-presence-in-d-c-costing-half-a-billion-dollars\/\" title=\"Lingering National Guard Presence In D.C. Costing Half A Billion Dollars\">experts argue<\/a> \u2062that the U.S. should take a more assertive stance\u2064 in \u2064condemning Hamas and \u2062holding Iran accountable for its support of the group. This includes\u2062 placing\u2064 pressure on Iran to halt its support \u2063for militant organizations and promoting a peaceful resolution \u200cto\u200b the \u2063Israeli-Palestinian \u200dconflict.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, the Biden administration&#8217;s pursuit of a two-state solution\u2062 has been \u200bmet \u2063with\u200b skepticism and criticism.\u2063 While the U.S.\u200d supports the establishment of a Palestinian state\u2063 alongside\u200c Israel, there are concerns that the\u2062 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-defeat-of-the-voice-will-not-trigger-much-self-reflection\/\" title=\"'The Voice' loss won't prompt deep introspection.\">current approach lacks<\/a> a\u200b comprehensive strategy for achieving this outcome. Critics argue \u200dthat the U.S. needs \u2063to take a more active\u2064 role in facilitating negotiations between Israel \u200dand \u2062the \u2062Palestinians and addressing the underlying issues that have hindered progress \u200cin the \u2064past.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to addressing the\u2063 challenges in its engagement with Iran and \u2064the Israel-Hamas conflict, \u2063the Biden administration should also\u2064 push for reform within the United\u200b Nations, specifically within the United Nations Relief \u2064and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA). The agency\u2063 has faced criticism\u200d for perpetuating the Israeli-Palestinian\u200d conflict\u200b by maintaining\u2062 a culture of victimhood and failing \u200bto promote a sustainable solution for Palestinian refugees. The United States \u2063should\u2064 work with its\u200c international partners to ensure that \u2062UNRWA is reformed and aligned with \u2064the \u2063goal \u200dof achieving a \u2062lasting peace in the \u2064region.<\/p>\n<p>In conclusion, the Biden administration&#8217;s\u200c foreign policy in the Middle East, particularly in \u200dits engagement with Iran \u2063and \u200chandling of the Israel-Hamas conflict, needs a strategic rethink. A comprehensive strategy that addresses the root causes\u2062 of tensions, holds Iran accountable \u200dfor\u2064 its support\u2064 of militant groups, and promotes a \u200bpeaceful resolution \u200cto\u200d the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is essential. Additionally,\u2064 reform within the United Nations, particularly within UNRWA, is necessary to promote \u2063a sustainable\u200d and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/sexual-consent-app-idea-draws-criticism-in-australia\/\" title=\"Sexual Consent App Idea Draws Criticism In Australia\">long-term solution<\/a> for \u2062Palestinian refugees. \u2063It is imperative for the Biden administration \u2063to reevaluate\u2063 its\u200b approach and work towards \u2064a more effective and \u200c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/as-ukraine-falls-new-axis-of-evil-rises-senator-says\/\" title=\"As Ukraine Falls, New \u2018Axis of Evil\u2019 Rises, Senator Says\">coherent foreign policy<\/a>\u200b in the Middle \u2063East.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Biden administration&#8217;s foreign policy in the Middle East requires a strategic overhaul and fresh perspectives. The Washington Examiner&#8217;s series, Middle East Mirage, will examine the administration&#8217;s shortcomings in engaging with Iran, addressing the Israel-Hamas conflict, pursuing a two-state solution, and implementing necessary reforms<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2671,"featured_media":2168848,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/wex-s3.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/middleeastmirage1-1024x591.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2168847","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/wex-s3.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/middleeastmirage1-1024x591.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2168847","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2671"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2168847"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2168847\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2168848"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2168847"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2168847"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2168847"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}