Defeating Iran is easier than changing Iran.
U.S. Secretary of State and Acting National Security Advisor Marco Rubio said Iran’s regime must change its behavior, especially by ending its export of the Islamic Revolution and its support for proxy forces across the region.
But that is also Washington’s hardest challenge.
Without changing the regime itself, how can the United States ensure that the same regime will continue behaving the way Washington wants? Once military pressure and sanctions ease, Tehran can always return to its previous policies if doing so serves its interests.
This is America’s strategic dilemma. Overthrowing Iran’s regime would be highly complex and carry enormous risks. It would likely require a ground invasion, followed by years of supporting a new government while fighting a prolonged insurgency. Afghanistan remains a clear example of how a 20-year military campaign failed to achieve its intended political outcome. Yet leaving the current regime in place offers no guarantee that its behavior will change permanently.
#Iran #USA #MiddleEast
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