What Should be United States Policy for Iran

Abstract : In his January 2002 State of the Union address to Congress and the American people President George W. Bush named North Korea, Iraq and Iran as comprising an Axis of Evil that threatens world peace through the sponsorship of terrorism and the pursuit of weapons of mass destruction. From 1991 to 2003 the United States attempted to pursue a policy of dual containment of Iran and Iraq. The containment policy did not prevent Iran from developing nuclear technology or sponsoring terrorist groups. Iran is neither deterred by American military power nor persuaded by economic sanctions. The overthrow of Saddam Hussein in Iraq has created an occasion to reconsider policy for Iran. Possible policy options include containment engagement disengagement or preventive war. Neither disengagement nor preventive war are attractive and engagement is problematic given Iran's internal political situation. Therefore a new approach to containment appears to be the best option. During the Cold War containment of the Soviet Union was based on the belief that the Soviet Union if unable to expand would collapse from its own internal contradictions. Iran too is beset by internal contradictions inherent to the mixing of politics and religion. The United States may encourage collapse of Islamic government in Iran if it can establish a stable democratic government in Iraq that is founded on Islamic principles but not controlled by Islamic clergy.