America's Iran Policy Pendulum from Obama and Trump to Biden (2009-2022): Between Diplomatic Engagement and Maximum Pressure

Ayman Saleh Albarasneh

doi:10.35516/hum.v51i3.3682

Authors

Ayman Saleh Albarasneh Department of Political Science, Prince Al-Hussein Bin Abdullah II School of International Studies, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5853-6279

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.35516/hum.v51i3.3682

Keywords:

United States, Iran, security, sanctions, Gulf region, maximum pressure, containment

Abstract

Objectives: This study examines US policy towards Iran from 2009 to 2022, focusing on the challenges and tools utilized by successive US administrations.

Methods: The study adopts a descriptive and analytical approach, drawing on official US documents, presidential statements, relevant articles, reports, and research.

Results: US-Iranian relations faced significant obstacles due to Iran's regional behavior and interference in other countries' affairs, leading to political instability. Different administrations employed varying strategies, with Obama pursuing a mix of diplomacy and economic sanctions, while the Trump administration opted for a strict approach, including withdrawing from the nuclear agreement and re-imposing economic sanctions. The Biden administration has continued the pressure by reinstating sanctions and expressing a desire to negotiate a new comprehensive agreement.

Conclusion: Despite inconsistencies, the overarching goal of US policy remains influencing Iran to alter its regional policies. However, these efforts have not produced a notable change in Iranian behavior, impeding the improvement of US-Iranian relations.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Baker P., Chinese-Brokered Deal Upends Mideast Diplomacy and Challenges U.S. The New York Times March 11, 2023. Retrieved April 4, 2023 from:

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/11/us/politics/saudi-arabia-iran-china-biden.html

Biden says he won't lift sanctions on Iran to bring country back to negotiating table. (2021, February 8). Retrieved July 2021, from CNN : https://edition.cnn.com/2021/02/07/politics/biden-iran-sanctions/index.html

Blair, D. (2009). Robert Gates: bombing Iran would not stop nuclear threat, The Telegraph.

Borger, I. T. (2009, September 25). Iran admits secret uranium enrichment plant. Retrieved June 18, 2021, from The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/sep/25/iran-admits-uranium-plant

Castiglioni, C. (2013, December 13). Obama’s Policy Toward Iran: Comparing First and Second Term, Milan . Retrieved September 15, 2021, from Italian Institute for International Political Studies ISPI: https://www.ispionline.it/en/pubblicazione/obamas-policy-toward-iran-comparing-first-and-second-term-9555

David E. Sanger, L. J. (2021, July 31). Biden Promised to Restore the Iran Nuclear Deal. Now It Risks Derailment . Retrieved September 20, 2021, from The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/31/us/politics/biden-iran-nuclear-deal.html

Dorman, S. (2019, June 20). Ex-Obama adviser Rhodes: Iran debacle 'predictable,' 'everything's gotten worse' under Trump. Retrieved September 10, 2021, from Fox News: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/fmr-obama-advisor-iran-debacle-predictable-everythings-gotten-worse-under-trump

Duggan, M. F. (2015, April 08). The Persian Elephant in the Room: Revitalizing U.S.-Iran Relations After the Iran Nuclear Deal. . Retrieved July 9, 2021, from Georgetown Journal of International Affairs: https://www.georgetownjournalofinternationalaffairs.org/online-edition/the-persian-elephant-in-the-room-revitalizing-u-s-iran-relations-after-the-iran-nuclear-deal

Duster, J. W. (2021, February 8). Biden will not lift sanctions to get Iran back to negotiating table. Retrieved March 14, 2021, from CNN: https://edition.cnn.com/2021/02/07/politics/biden-iran-sanctions/index.html

FACTBOX: Obama news conference highlights. (2009 , February 10). Retrieved April 20, 2021, from Reuters : https://www.reuters.com/article/us-obama-factbox-sb-idUSTRE5190Q220090210

Glaser, J. (2018 , JULY 23). Trump’s Incoherent Approach to Iran. Retrieved July 14, 2021, from Cato Institute, Washington: https://www.cato.org/commentary/trumps-incoherent-approach-iran

Haass, R. (2021, November 17). Iran's Nuclear Choices and Ours. Retrieved November 20, 2021, from Council on Foreign Relations: https://www.cfr.org/article/irans-nuclear-choices-and-ours

Iran nuclear: Other options if diplomacy fails, says Biden. ( 2021 , August 27 ). Retrieved September 15, 2021, from BBC News: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-58315818

Iran: US must lift sanctions before it lives up to nuke deal . (2021, February 7). Retrieved July 2021, 2021, from ABC news: https://www.abc27.com/news/us-world/international/irans-leader-us-must-lift-sanctions-before-return-to-deal/

Iran's Rouhani warns Trump about 'mother of all wars'. (2018, July 22). Retrieved August 2, 2021, from Reuters : https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-nuclear-usa-rouhani-idUSKBN1KC07Z

Katzman, K. ( 2019). Iran: Internal Politics and U.S. Policy and Options. Washington : Congressional Research Service.

Kessler, G. (2006 , June 18). In 2003, U.S. Spurned Iran's Offer of Dialogue Some Officials Lament Lost Opportunity . Retrieved October 10, 2021, from The Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2006/06/18/in-2003-us-spurned-irans-offer-of-dialogue-span-classbankheadsome-officials-lament-lost-opportunity-span/1b6aa764-7acf-4baa-8a4b-e84406d52232/

Mahapatra, C. (2016 ). US–Iran Nuclear Deal: Cohorts and Challenger. Contemporary Review of the Middle East, SAGE Publications. , pp.36–46.

Maloney, S. (Winter 2013). Engagement with Iran: The Sequel . The Fletcher Forum of World Affairs Vol. 37, No. 1 , pp. 91-103.

Martin Indyk, K. L. (2012). Scoring Obama's Foreign Policy: A Progressive Pragmatist Tries to Bend History. Foreign Affairs .

Megerian, C. (2021, October 30). Biden offers to lift sanctions if Iran ‘changes course’. Retrieved October 30 , 2021, from Los Angeles Times: https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2021-10-30/iran-nuclear-weapon-biden-europe

Michael McFaul, A. M. (WINTER 2006-07). A Win-Win U.S. Strategy for Dealing with Iran. The Washington Quarterly The Center for Strategic and International Studies and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology , pp. 121–138.

Mordock, J. (2021, October 31). Biden U.S.’continuing to suffer’ from Trump’s decision to pull out of Iran deal. Retrieved Novemeber 2, 2021, from The Washington Times: https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/oct/31/biden-says-us-suffering-trump-decision-iran-deal-p/

Morgan, C. (2015). A History of Covert Action and a Promising Future. The Cohen Journal , pp. 1-22.

Mortazavi, A. R. (2021, March 10). President Biden Must Follow the Advice of Candidate Biden on Iran. Retrieved June 15, 2021, from Foreign Policy: https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/03/10/president-biden-must-follow-the-advice-of-candidate-biden-on-iran/

Nasr, V. (2012 , March 13). Obama Needs to Go the Whole Mile on Iran Diplomacy. Retrieved August 20, 2021, from The Brookings Institution: https://www.brookings.edu/opinions/obama-needs-to-go-the-whole-mile-on-iran-diplomacy/

Norman, J. ( 2021, April 26 ). Middle East balance key to Biden's foreign policy aims . Retrieved October 20, 2021, from Chatham House: https://americas.chathamhouse.org/article/middle-east-balance-biden-foreign-policy/

Nuruzzaman, M. (2015). President Obama's Middle East Policy, 2009 - 2013 . Insight Turkey , Vol. 17 (Issue No. 1), pp.171 - 190.

Parsi, T. (2017). Losing an Enemy: Obama, Iran, and the Triumph of Diplomacy . USA: Yale University Press.

Parsi, T. (2018, MAY 23). Why Trump’s Strategy for Iran Is Likely to Lead to War. Retrieved May 15, 2021, from The Nation: https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/why-abandoning-the-iran-nuke-deal-is-likely-to-lead-to-war/

Pollack, K. M. (2021, January 10). Prospects for U.S.-Iran Relations at the Start of the Biden Administration . Retrieved June 15, 2021, from Foreign Policy: https://www.lawfareblog.com/prospects-us-iran-relations-start-biden-administration

Pollock, D. (2021, March 10). Biden’s Iran Policy So Far: Beware the New, Non-Nuclear Options. Retrieved September 20, 2021, from The Washington Institute for Near East Policy: https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/bidens-iran-policy-so-far-beware-new-non-nuclear-options

Pompeo, M. (2018, May 21). Statement by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at the Heritage Foundation, After the Deal: A New Iran Strategy. Retrieved June 10, 2021, from The Heritage Foundation: https://www.heritage.org/defense/event/after-the-deal-new-iran-strategy

President Obama State of the Union Address. (2013b, February 12). Retrieved June 2021, 2021, from The White House : https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2013/02/12/remarks-president-state-union-address

President Obama’ speech in Cairo: A New Beginning . (2009a, June 4). Retrieved August 23, 2021, from The White House: https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/issues/foreign-policy/presidents-speech-cairo-a-new-beginning

Remarks by President Obama in Address to the United Nations General Assembly. (2013a, September 24). Retrieved October 22, 2021, from The White House: https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2013/09/24/remarks-president-obama-address-united-nations-general-assembly

Remarks by President Trump on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. (2018, May 8). Retrieved July 21, 2021, from The White House : https://uy.usembassy.gov/remarks-by-president-trump-on-the-joint-comprehensive-plan-of-action/

Richardson, D. (2019, May 22 ). Breaking Silence, James Mattis Warns Trump against War with Iran. Retrieved July 22, 2021, from Observer: https://observer.com/2019/05/james-mattis-warns-trump-against-iran-war/

Rogin, J. (2021 , October 14). The Iran deal is dead. Where is Biden’s Plan B? Retrieved October 18, 2021, from The Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/10/14/iran-deal-is-dead-where-is-bidens-plan-b/

Romano, D. (2018, August 7). Trump’s Iran policy: Containment or regime change? . Retrieved September 15, 2021, from Rudaw: https://www.rudaw.net/english/opinion/07082018

Rosen, A. (2016, January 20). GATES: Don't expect the nuclear agreement to lead to a more moderate Iran . Retrieved April 20, 2021, from Business Insider: https://www.businessinsider.com.au/gates-dont-expect-the-nuclear-agreement-to-lead-to-a-more-moderate-iran-2016-1

Ross, D. (2020, December 26). How Biden’s Iran Policy Can Have a Chance to Succeed . Retrieved April 15, 2021, from The Washington Institute: https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/how-bidens-iran-policy-can-have-chance-succeed

Ross, D. (October, 2021 27). The Threat of War Is the Only Way to Achieve Peace With Iran. Retrieved November 30, 2021, from Foreign Policy : https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/threat-war-only-way-achieve-peace-iran

Rothkopf, D. ( 2015, JANUARY 29). Obama’s Pivot to Iran. Retrieved August 14, 2021, from Foreign Policy: https://foreignpolicy.com/2015/01/29/obamas-pivot-to-iran/

Rydqvist, R. P. (2011). Iran and the West Regional Interests and Global Controversies. Stockholm: the Swedish Defense Research Agency FOI.

Secretary Antony J. Blinken with Dana Bash of CNN State of the Union . (2021a, October 31). Retrieved November 2, 2021, from US Department of State: https://www.state.gov/secretary-antony-j-blinken-with-dana-bash-of-cnn-state-of-the-union/

Sharp, T. (JUNE 2009). U.S. Foreign Policy toward Iran in the Obama Era. Milano: (Italian Institute for International Political Studies) ISPI .

Shokri, M. (2016). A New Perspective in the Middle East: A Comprehensive Approach To The US-Iran Relations in the Region. Glocalism. Journal of Culture, Politics and Innovation , pp.1-24.

Simon, S. (July 2018). Iran and President Trump: What Is the Endgame?. Survival: Global Politics and Strategy, IISS . Volume: 60 (Edition: 4 ), pp.7-20 .

Singh, M. (2021b, October 25). A Plan B for Iran . Retrieved November 3, 2021, from Foreign Affairs: https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/iran/2021-10-25/plan-b-iran

Singh, M. ( 2021a, February 1). Biden’s Iran Dilemma. Retrieved August 12, 2021, from The Washington Institute for Near East Policy: https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/bidens-iran-dilemma

Special Briefing with Robert Malley, U.S. Special Envoy for Iran. (2021b, October 25). Retrieved November 1, 2021, from U.S. Department of State: https://www.state.gov/special-briefing-with-robert-malley-u-s-special-envoy-for-iran/

Sullivan, J. ( 2019, January/February). What Donald Trump and Dick Cheney Got Wrong About America . Retrieved July 20, 2021, from The Atlantic: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2019/01/yes-america-can-still-lead-the-world/576427/

Takeyh, K. M. (Fall 2011). Doubling Down on Iran. The Washington Quarterly , 34:4. pp. 7-21.

Takeyh, S. M. (2008, December 2). Pathway to Coexistence: A New U.S. Policy toward Iran. Retrieved October 12, 2021, from The Brookings Institution: https://www.brookings.edu/research/pathway-to-coexistence-a-new-u-s-policy-toward-iran/

Takeyh, S. M. (November 29, 2011). The Self-limiting Success of Iran’s Sanctions. International Affairs , Volume Vol. 87, No. 6, pp. 1297-1312.

U.S. Policy Toward Iran: Strategic Options, Report of the Task Force on Managing Disorder in the Middle East. (2018, May 14). Retrieved October 2, 2021, from Washington: Bipartisan Policy Center: https://bipartisanpolicy.org/download/?file=/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/BPC-National-Security-Strategic-Options-on-Iran.pdf

US exploring 'other options' to keep Iran from acquiring nuclear weapon as diplomatic talks stall, Blinken says. (2021, October 13 ). Retrieved October 28, 2021, from USA Today: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2021/10/13/antony-blinken-israel-warn-against-iran-nuclear-programs-rapid-gain/8438245002/

Videotaped Remarks by The President in Celebration of Nowruz. (2009b, March 20). Retrieved July 25, 2021, from The White House: https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/videotaped-remarks-president-celebration-nowruz

Walt, S. M. (2013, September 16). Iran Is the Real Prize for Obama’s Foreign Policy. Retrieved August 20, 2021, from Foreign Policy: https://foreignpolicy.com/2013/09/16/iran-is-the-real-prize-for-obamas-foreign-policy/

Wright, R. (2021 , January 4). Biden Faces a Minefield in New Diplomacy with Iran . Retrieved June 21, 2021, from The New Yorker: https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/biden-faces-a-minefield-in-new-diplomacy-with-iran

Zakaria, F. (2021, September 16). Is Biden normalizing Trump’s foreign policy? Retrieved October 2021, 2021, from The Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/09/16/is-biden-normalizing-trumps-foreign-policy/

Zeleny, M. R. (2007, November 2). Obama Pledges ‘Aggressive’ Iran Diplomacy . Retrieved July 18, 2021, from The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/02/us/politics/01cnd-obama.html