Washington, DC – The United States has recommended that Iran reassess its foreign policy and prioritize its economy following setbacks this year.
During a speech at the Council on Foreign Relations, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken mentioned that Israel has managed to weaken Tehran’s allies, Hezbollah and Hamas, along with Iran’s military capabilities through a direct strike in October.
“It’s clear that this has not been a favorable year for Iran, and we are seeing the consequences daily,” Blinken remarked.
He emphasized the importance for Iran to make significant decisions going forward.
“One option for Iran is to focus on internal development and strive for a more prosperous country that meets the needs of its citizens, rather than engaging in regional conflicts,” he stated.
With President-elect Donald Trump returning to office next month, Iran is facing vulnerability due to the losses suffered by its allies.
Meanwhile, Israel continues its attacks in Gaza, resulting in casualties among Palestinians, and is expanding into Syria following the fall of President Bashar al-Assad.
‘Axis of resistance’
Israel emerged victorious from a 14-month war with Hezbollah, forcing the group to retreat its fighters from southern Lebanon as part of a ceasefire agreement.
Hezbollah, a key ally in the “axis of resistance” network supported by Iran, was significantly weakened in the conflict.
Although Hezbollah inflicted some damage on Israeli forces, Israel succeeded in eliminating top Hezbollah leaders and reducing their rocket arsenal.
Despite the ceasefire, Israel continues to strike Lebanon, signaling its determination to prevent Hezbollah from regaining military strength.
While Hezbollah claims victory, experts suggest that a weakened Hezbollah could impact Iran’s regional influence and effectiveness against Israel in potential conflicts.
In addition, the fall of President al-Assad, another Iranian ally, further diminished Tehran’s influence in the region.
Despite these setbacks, Iranian leaders have remained defiant, denying claims of defeat for the “axis of resistance.”
Iran has indicated that it will retaliate militarily against the Israeli attack in October, when Iran launched missiles at Israeli military bases in response to the killing of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh and Hezbollah leader Nasrallah.
Iran’s nuclear programme
Concerns have risen over Iran’s nuclear ambitions, as Israel’s actions in the region may prompt Iran to pursue nuclear weapons for deterrence against potential attacks.
Despite Iranian leaders claiming no interest in nuclear weapons, Blinken emphasized that Iran obtaining a nuclear bomb is not inevitable.
Blinken highlighted the 2015 nuclear deal as a successful framework for Iran to curb its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.
With the US withdrawing from the deal and imposing sanctions on Iran, the country began enriching uranium at higher levels, accelerating the pathway to nuclear weapon acquisition.
Efforts to revive the nuclear agreement through indirect talks failed, setting the stage for increased economic pressure on Iran under the upcoming Trump administration.
While diplomacy with Iran remains a possibility, the future administration will determine the approach to negotiations and the goal of preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
‘Prospect of negotiations’
Blinken expressed optimism for diplomatic engagement with Iran and stressed the importance of preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, regardless of the US political party in power.
While discussing the potential for US support of Iranian opposition forces, Blinken advised caution based on past experiences with regime change efforts.
