Since the creation of the nation of Israel after World War II, America has been unequivocal in its support of the Jewish state – or has it? I should note that this commentary looks at actions by past administrations specifically in terms of Iran as the primary force behind world terrorism. Has the United States’ Iran policy been correct in dealing with the rogue nation? Judge for yourself.
Previous Presidents
It was on President Carter’s watch that Islamic terrorists took over Iran from an American allied government of the Shah – setting the stage for terrorist insurgency that has afflicted the Middle East ever since. He did impose sanctions on Iran in 1979 after terrorists seized the U.S. embassy in Tehran. However, he eased sanctions in the last days of his presidency as part of the Algiers Accord that secured the release of hostages held in Iran – a financial benefit that can be seen as a ransom.
President Reagan imposed an arms embargo on Iran. He followed up in 1987 with a trade embargo due to Iran’s support of international terrorism.
President George H.W. Bush signed the Iran-Iraq Arms nonproliferation Act that sanctioned material used in the production of nuclear weapons.
In 1995, President Clinton issued an Executive Order that banned trade and investment with Iran – which was later enacted into law as the Iran and Libya Sanctions Act.
President George W. Bush extended the Clinton sanctions and added others impacting on Iranian entities and individuals involved in terrorism or nuclear proliferation. He also pushed through a UN Security Council resolution that imposed international sanctions on Iran for continuing uranium enrichment activities. Bush also designated the Islamic Revolutionary Guard (IRG) and its Quds Force as terrorist organizations and imposed sanctions on the IRG and its affiliates.
President Obama
The most significant shift in American policy vis-à-vis Iran came with President Obama.
President Obama shifted American policy to what has been referred to as “an even-handed” approach – that means more favorable to normalizing relations with Iran. More than any previous administration, Obama favored policies that tended to benefit Iran’s proxy in Gaza. He endorsed the Palestinian positions on the two-state option and was critical of Israeli management of the Palestinian population.
In a symbolic gesture, Obama refused to meet with Israeli President Netanyahu when he came to Washington to address Congress in 2015. The White House gave two reasons for the refusal. Obama claimed it was not traditional for heads of states to meeting during election campaigns – and the Israeli election was two months off at the time. It was a tradition that no one had ever heard of.
Obama also said that he was in the midst of negotiation for the Iran Nuclear Deal during the visit, which Netanyahu opposed. Being seen welcoming the Israeli Prime Minister was not good imagery at the moment. That makes more sense.
In terms of policy, Obama eased sanctions on Iran. That was a complete reversal of the policies of previous presidents, who mostly imposed sanctions – Carter the one exception.
Obama eased sanctions in 2013 and again in 2016 – when Iran agreed to the terms of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, a multilateral deal designed to restrain Iranian nuclear ambitions.
In many ways, Obama’s shift in U.S. policy empowered the anti-Israel faction of the Democratic Party regarding the Palestinians – most notably those associated with the so-called “squad.” Democrats and the radical left were emboldened in the condemnations of Israel – with a number of Democrats endorsing the BDS (boycott, divest and sanction) Movement against Israel.
We see the influence of the anti-Israel faction of the Democratic Party today in their support for Palestinian terrorism – including the holding of pro-Palestinian (Hamas) rallies in cities such as New York. After the attack on Israel Democrat Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib posted a Palestinian flag outside her office alongside an American flag.
President Trump
President Trump took a complete reversal of the Obama policies toward Iran and Israel – and was the most aggressive President in sanctioning Iran. He terminated the Iran Nuclear Deal. That was possible because the Deal was an agreement between the Obama administration and Iran. It was not a treaty or deal approved by Congress – which was unlikely to approve the Deal.
Trump imposed more sanctions on Iran than any previous president. He re-imposed all the sanctions that were lifted by Obama as part of the Iran Nuclear Deal. Specifically:
- In August of 2018, Trump imposed sanctions on Iran’s ability to trade in gold and precious metals, its automotive sector and access to U.S. dollars.
- In November of 2018, Trump re-imposed sanctions on Iran’s oil export, shipbuilding, port operations, energy and on transactions with Iran’s Central Bank and other financial institutions.
- In April of 2019, he ended waivers that allowed eight countries to continue importing Iran oil.
- In May of 2019, Trump imposed new sanctions on Iran’s iron, steel, aluminum, and copper industries.
- In June of 2019, Trump imposed new sanctions on Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his office.
- In July of 2019, Trump imposed new sanctions on Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.
- In September of 2019, Trump imposed new sanctions on the National Bank of Iran and its Foreign Wealth Fund.
- In January of 2020, Trump ordered a strike that killed Qasem Soleimani, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard – the terrorist wing of the Iran military.
- Following the attack on Soleimani, Trump imposed new sanctions on the Iranian metals industry and several Iranian officials.
- In June of 2020, Trump imposed new sanctions on the Irani nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
- In October of 2020, Trump imposed new sanctions on 18 Iranian banks which included secondary sanctions.
- In November of 2020, Trump imposed new sanctions on Iranian oil, targeting the Ministry of Petroleum and related industries.
- In December of 2020, Trump imposed new sanctions on Iran’s shipping industry, specifically targeting the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines and its subsidiaries.
President Biden
President Biden has moved to re-establish the Iran Nuclear Deal. While Biden has not lifted any of the Trump sanctions, that possibility remains on the table as part of a new Iran Nuclear Deal.
Biden has sanctioned individuals and entities located in Iran and several other nations who have supported sanctioned Iranian energy exports. Biden has been hesitant to sanction Iran out of concern that it would disrupt negotiations over a new Iran Nuclear Deal.
In a controversial move, Biden agreed to the release of more than $6 billion frozen by sanctions in South Korea in return for the release of American hostages. Though Biden claims it was not a ransom it has the smell of one.
In what has been described as a powerful speech in support of Israel following the Hamas attack, Biden did not mention the 500-pound gorilla in the room – Iran. There is no doubt that the planning, training, and funding for that attack came from Iran over many years. Biden did not use that moment to stop the transfer of the $6 billion dollars in ransom money that remains in banks in Qatar.
Summary
The record is clear. Other than Clinton, Democrat presidents have taken a much more conciliatory approach to Iran specifically – and Middle East terrorism generally. We need to look to the future to know how American policy toward Iran will roll out after the Hamas attack on Israel. There should be no misunderstanding that Hamas is a subsidiary of Iran and is culpable in the attack. As such, Iran must be made to pay along with its subsidiaries of Hamas and Hezbollah. Unless Iran is diminished, terrorism against Israel and the world democracies will continue. There can be no Middle East peace with Iran in charge.
So, there ‘tis.