The Costs of Containing Iran

A US intelligence report published December 3 concludes that Iran abandoned its nuclear weapons program in 2003. The report from 16 US intelligence agencies could slow an aggressive policy on Iran from the Bush administration. The US has failed to build a US-Israeli-Sunni alliance against Tehran – and also fails to recognize that, even if possible, such an alliance would further inflame sectarian tensions and destabilize the region. A more tenable strategy in the face of Iran’s often militant – though not nuclear – theocracy should avoid playing upon existing antagonisms to shift power away from Iran. Instead, the US could actively facilitate diplomacy among the Gulf states and support the creation of a regional security system, as recommended in this Foreign Affairs article by Vali Nasr and Ray Takeyh – published before the December 3 intelligent report – so that all parties have a stake in stability. They write: “Engaging Iran while regulating its rising power within an inclusive regional security arrangement is the best way of stabilizing Iraq, placating the United States' Arab allies, helping along the Arab-Israeli peace process, and even giving a new direction to negotiations over Iran's nuclear program.” – YaleGlobal