On 16 August, the State Department announced the appointment of a “special representative for Iran” to coordinate U.S. policy as the administration looks to ramp up pressure on Tehran after pulling out of the 2015 nuclear deal. As State Secretary Mike Pompeo explained in his recent statement to the press, the establishment of the Iran Action Group (IAG) is meant to coordinate movements among various U.S. agencies in efforts to influence Iranian policy.
Pompeo said that “we’re committed to a whole-government effort to change the Iranian regime’s behavior, and the Iran Action Group will ensure that the State Department remains closely synchronized with our interagency partners.” Pompeo added that the IAG will also coordinate policy with the “growing” number of international partners that share the U.S. understanding “of the Iranian threat.” Brian Hook, currently the State Department’s director of policy planning, will head the IAG.
So what exactly are IAG goals in curtailing Iran’s behavior?
Although addressing Tehran’s “aspirations for nuclear weapons” is part of the group’s mission, the list of objectives includes several more pertinent problems. Officials have stated that IAG is part of America’s efforts to deal with the wide range of “malign” Iranian activities, including its support for terrorism, cyber activities, and the proliferation of ballistic missiles.
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There are two noteworthy points here that the creation of IAG highlights:
First, it puts up a clearer picture of what exactly the U.S. and its allies are opposing when it comes to Iran. Years of media attention on Iran’s nuclear sites and subsequent negotiations around the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), otherwise known as the Iran nuclear deal, shifted the world’s attention to the threat of Iran acquiring operable atomic weapons. The primary danger posed by Iran was never its potential nukes, but rather its proliferation of weapons, millions in funding, and other substantial logistical support to militancy throughout the Middle East and the world. The problem with the nuclear deal was the fact that it forced its signatories to relax its pressure on Iran and allow its leaders to execute their regular mischief unabated. This includes Tehran’s support for the rebels in Yemen, currently the worst humanitarian crisis in the region, establishing itself in Syria, and the setting up of Revolutionary Guard bases in the country, and of course the funding of its militant proxy army, Hezbollah. The clear mission of IAG, establishing a comprehensive set of goals that go beyond the nuclear issue, clarifies America’s global security concerns vis-à-vis the Islamic Republic.
Second, is the outreach element contained in IAG’s mandate. It is clear that the Trump administration has been attempting to capitalize on the public discontent aimed at the Iranian leadership. From the series of popular protests earlier this year, to the more recent economic downturn that, quite frankly, threatens the country’s long-term stability, there are clear signs pressure on the regime is building from amongst common Iranians.
Does this mean that President Trump is now a popular figure in the country?
Absolutely not. However, there is certainly an angle which the administration wants to take advantage of. This is why Pompeo included references to “a brighter future for the Iranian people” in his briefing on IAG. It is reminiscent of statements President Trump himself made months ago when announcing he would be pulling out of the 2015 nuclear deal. At that time, President Trump expressed hope that he could restructure a new deal, one that could even lead to some reconciliation between the two countries.
IAG will likely be an emissary carrying olive branches as much as a means of aggressive influence.
