The President’s Golden Opportunity
Salvage His Damaged Foreign Policy Record by Supporting Iranian Women
Today the president has an unlikely occasion to restore America’s diminished reputation in foreign relations. The leadership of Iran is faced with growing protests from women who object to the way they are treated by the authorities, specifically the morality police.
For several weeks, women have protested the arrest and death of a woman who disobeyed the rule that she cover her head when in public. The anger spread from local to national protests and garnered broad support from unions and major industries.
Opportunity
In a column by Walter Mead Russell in the Wall Street Journal, President Biden’s chance for recovery was made clear:
- Rebuffed by Iran at the negotiating table to renew the cancelled nuclear arms talks;
- Embarrassed by the devastating and costly withdrawal from Afghanistan;
- Rejected by Saudi Arabia in its plea to expand oil production;
- Further embarrassed by the successful election of Israel’s Netanyahu;
America now has a chance to regain the broad support of its voting public and its allies in Europe and the Middle East.
Absolute power
The clerical leadership of Iran — the ayatollahs and clergy — has held absolute power over its citizens, and its abusive, iron-fisted behavior has helped to encourage protests.
Today’s protest movement could lead to positive change in the country’s leadership, and it presents an opportunity for America to lead.
Options
Policy choices for America include:
- Persuading Europe that sanctions in Iran should be strengthened for its illegally providing Russia with weapons that are wreaking havoc on Ukraine’s power industry;
- Squashing black-market Iranian oil sales;
- Cooperating with local allies to suppress Iran economically;
- Helping to restore the internet and other communications services to Iranians;
- Assuring Iranians that normal economic conditions would be restored in the event of a positive change in regime.
Positive results
Following these moves could put excess pressure on Iran’s ayatollahs and reduce Iran’s influence on proxies (e.g. Hezbollah) that interfere with America’s Middle East allies. They might cut off Russia’s access to the weapons that are vital to its success in Ukraine. Ultimately, these efforts could help to reduce the international price of oil, which would damage Russia while improving Ukraine’s chances for success in the war.
Such support for the Iranian protests could yield tremendous benefits to the entire world.
We can hope that the president gets advice from wiser people to begin to reverse the disturbing trend of American foreign relations.
