"There are two objectives, one related to security and one related to the future of Iran. On security, I think Washington's goal is to neutralize the threat that the Islamic republic poses to the United States and to our allies and partners in the region. So that's why you're seeing a focus on ballistic missiles. It's why you're seeing a focus on the Iranian regime's support for terror proxies and why you're seeing a focus on the Iranian regime's nuclear weapons program."
"I think operations to target the security services are also important because those are the elements of the regime that would try to put down any uprising, any future uprising by the Iranian people to restore democracy and freedom to their country."
"I think the president's goal is to degrade and destroy those capabilities so that Americans in the region and our partners in the region are no longer threatened by violence by the Iranian regime. I think there's also a political objective and the president has talked about the moment of liberation being at hand."
Washington pursues dual objectives in its engagement with Iran: military and political. The military component focuses on neutralizing threats posed by Iran's ballistic missiles, support for terrorist proxies, and nuclear weapons program to protect American personnel and regional allies. Success is measured by declining Iranian attacks and weakened security capabilities. The political objective aims to create conditions for internal change and democratic restoration within Iran. Operations targeting security services are viewed as critical because these forces would suppress any popular uprising against the regime. However, the conflict carries risks of generating security threats extending beyond the Middle East region.
Read at RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]