Iran Is Just Loving the Trump Era So Far – Slate Magazine (blog)
An Iranian woman holds a placard showing a caricature of President Donald Trump at a rally marking the anniversary of the 1979 revolution on Feb. 10 in Tehran.
AFP/Getty Images
If youre feeling generous, you could say the one organizing principle of Donald Trumps foreign policy is that Iranian influence must be contained and rolled back. Though the president doesnt seem to agree on much with senior members of his national security team, like H.R. McMaster and James Mattis, these days, theyre on the same page when it comes to the threat posed by Tehrans regional ambitions. But far from being rolled back, Iranian influence appears to be spreading. And far from being united, the international community is deeply divided over how to respond. Some of the Trump administrations policies may even ultimately bolster the Islamic Republics growing clout.
Want to listen to this article out loud? Hear it on Slate Voice.
Listen to an audio recording of this article
Get Slate Voice, the spoken edition of the magazine, made exclusively for Slate Plus members. In addition to this article, youll hear a daily selection of our best stories, handpicked by our editors and voiced by professional narrators.
Your Slate Voice podcast feed
To listen to an audio recording of this article, copy this link and add it to your podcast app:
For full instructions see the Slate Plus podcasts FAQ.
Carlotta Gall of the New York Times reported over the weekend on Irans growing influence in Afghanistan. Iran is providing local Taliban insurgents with weapons, money and training. It has offered Taliban commanders sanctuary and fuel for their trucks. It has padded Taliban ranks by recruiting among Afghan Sunni refugees in Iran, according to Afghan and Western officials. Afghans also fear that Iran is working to subvert plans in Afghanistan for upstream dams that could threaten its water supply. Iranian influence has grown as the U.S. presence in Afghanistan has waned. From that perspective, the current debate within the U.S. administration over troop levels in the country presents something of a win-win for Iran: Washington will either commit more troops and financial resources to a fight it has little hope of winning (whatever winning means at this point) or it will draw down further and leave a power vacuum behind.
Weve seen this movie beforein Iraq, where Irans economic, political, and military influence is stronger than ever. Just days after the U.S. passed new sanctions on Iran last month, Baghdad signed a deal to boost military cooperation with Tehran. During his campaign, Trump often accused Barack Obama of handing the country over to Iran by withdrawing troops, but that die was probably cast in 2003, when the U.S. toppled the anti-Iranian government of a country that borders Iran and has a majority Shiite population. When the Iraqi military collapsed in the face of ISIS in 2014, Iranian-backed Shiite militias stepped in, doing much of the fighting against the group. Now that ISIS has been mostly ousted from the country after the fall of Mosul, those militias dont seem to be in a hurry to disband.
As reporter Borzou Daragahi recently reported in a lengthy investigative piece for BuzzFeed, militias, overseen by the secretive Quds force of Irans Revolutionary Guards, are an increasingly dominant force throughout the region. This is particularly true in Syria, where, in recent years, Iranian-backed militias have done the bulk of the on-the-ground fighting on behalf of Bashar al-Assads embattled regime. The Revolutionary Guards have reportedly also found ways to continue to supply covert arms shipments to their Houthi allies in Yemen, despite a U.S.-backed embargo.
President Trump noted these developments in his speech at a regional summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in May, arguing that nations of conscience must work together to isolate Iran, deny it funding for terrorism, and pray for the day when the Iranian people have the just and righteous government they deserve. (The last part was a bit rich for a speech delivered to an audience primarily of monarchs and dictators.) To this end, the administration has supported new sanctions on Irans ballistic missile program, increased support for the brutal Saudi-led air campaign in Yemen, and may yet cancel the 2015 nuclear deal.
But U.S. moves have not been consistently anti-Iranian. The recent reports that the CIA is dropping its support for anti-Assad rebels in Syria is the clearest signal yet that the U.S. plans to leave the Syrian strongman in power, giving Iran an unblocked string of allies through Iran and Syria to the Mediterranean. At one point last spring, the U.S. military was actually firing on Iranian-backed militias to protect a group of rebels being trained by U.S. special forces in Southern Syria, but CNN reported recently that those rebels have left the U.S. coalition after they were told they were only to fight ISIS, not Assad. Some have even been recruited by the regime to switch sides. And while American diplomats have reportedly worked to ensure that Iranian-backed foreign fighters wont be the ones on the ground enforcing the recent U.S.-Russia cease-fire deal, that hasnt mollified the Israeli government, which opposes the cease-fire on the grounds that it will ensure a long-term Iranian presence in Syria.
Iran has also benefited at times from the confusion and mixed signals coming out of Washington. In June, Saudi Arabia and its allies cut off diplomatic relations with neighboring Qatar and imposed a blockade, demandingamong other thingsthat it cease its relatively friendly relations with Iran. The Saudis maximalist position was no doubt encouraged by Trumps fighting words in Riyadh, and indeed the president took credit for the situation on Twitter. But Secretary of State Rex Tillerson took a neutral approach to the situation, and the U.S. continued to move forward on an arms deal with Qatar, undermining the Saudi position. Qatar hasnt backed down, and ironically the blockades main impact has been to deepen Qatars economic ties to Iran.
The new set of U.S. sanctions on Iran may have an impact on some high-ranking members of the Revolutionary Guards, but its overall impact on Irans policies will probably be limited, as other countries seem unlikely to follow suit. China has been investing heavily in Irans infrastructure as part of its global One Belt, One Road trade initiative. European companies have also been investing in Iran since the lifting of nuclear sanctions: Just Monday, French carmaker Renault signed a $780 million deal to increase vehicle production in Iran. EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherinis attendance over the weekend at President Hassan Rouhanis inauguration for a second term was another sign that European governments arent heeding Washingtons calls to isolate Iran.
Thats going to be a problem if Trump follows through on his tweets to blow up the nuclear deal entirely: The U.S. can reimpose its own sanctions, but they wont have the same bite they did before 2015 if other countries dont join the push. Trump has made matters worse by signaling that he plans to certify Iran as noncompliant with the deal, whether or not his intelligence agencies conclude that it is. This makes it patently obvious that the U.S. administration wants to kill the deal no matter what and has no serious intention of giving diplomacy a chance. If Trump goes through with it, Iran could end up with something it almost never has: widespread international support.
It would be ironic if this deeply anti-Iranian administration ended up increasing Irans regional clout and global influence. Of course, this assumes the Trump administration doesnt follow its current Iran policies to their logical endpoint: armed conflict. Thats not a good outcome for anyone.
See the original post:
Iran Is Just Loving the Trump Era So Far - Slate Magazine (blog)
- Trump brushes off Iran's assassination threat with a don't care attitude - Hindustan Times - Hindustan Times - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Son of couple held in Iran: 'They aren't spies, they're Mum and Dad' - BBC - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- China likely to strengthen backing for Iran as it looks to secure interests - South China Morning Post - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- How Turkey Views the Iran-Israel Confrontation - The Washington Institute - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- How the West Can Ensure Iran Never Gets the Bomb - The Atlantic - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Who Will Become the Next Supreme Leader of Iran? - NPR - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Israel Won the War It Fought. But Iran Emerged Victorious in the One That Mattered - Haaretz - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Russia vows to refill Iran's uranium stocks, as Netanyahu warns that enriched supply was unscathed during the war - New York Post - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Opinion | The Fallout From the Iran Strikes - WSJ - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Pakistans ability to thread the needle in relations with the US and Iran tested by the Israel-Iran war - Middle East Institute - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- How Israel tracked down and assassinated scientists involved in Iran's nuclear program - Le Monde.fr - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- The Limits of Russias Friendship: How Moscow Sees the Iran Crisis - CSIS | Center for Strategic and International Studies - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- After US strikes, Iran is seeking closer ties to Europes pariah states - The Hill - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- A win for Tehran: experts assess Carlson's Iran interview - - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Time for Iran to make a no-enrichment nuclear deal - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Israeli officials think Trump could give them green light to attack Iran again - Axios - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- We didnt wipe them out: Why Iran is still dangerous even after key strikes - The Times of Israel - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Iran's president says Tehran open to dialogue with US, accuses Israel of assassination attempt - Reuters - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Israel said to expect US backing for future strikes on Iran if it revives nuclear program - The Times of Israel - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Trump all for Iran peace talks, but ready, willing and able to strike again - The Hill - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Witkoff promises new nuclear talks with Iran within a week; Trump says not sure they have a purpose - The Times of Israel - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Iran demands accountability for Israel and US after war of aggression - Al Jazeera - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Iran gets significant diplomatic boost from BRICS bloc with Russia and China - Newsweek - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- After setback to Iran's nuclear program, Trump expected to leverage military support in Netanyahu meeting - Fox News - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- A timeline of the Iran-Israel war - Tehran Times - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Turkey is the new Iran - www.israelhayom.com - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- US, Iran de-escalate rhetoric, nudge to talks but Tehran wary of Israels influence - The Arab Weekly - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Sen. Steve Daines says regime change is the best long-term plan in Iran - Fox News - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Why Iran emerged victorious in its war with Israel - Tehran Times - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Why has Iran stepped up its deportation of Afghan refugees? - Al Jazeera - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Iran alone in crises: Where were Russia, China in their time of need? - Euronews.com - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- The 12-day conflict is over: What is next for Iran? | Daily Sabah - Daily Sabah - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Iran President Accuses Israel of Assassination Attempt in Interview with Tucker Carlson - Algemeiner.com - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- I will never regret coming: Amid Israels devastating strikes on Iran, a woman traveling solo had to find her way out - CNN - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- A text, a Telegram link, then an offer of money: how Iran sought to recruit spies in Israel - The Guardian - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Tucker Carlson says to air interview with president of Iran - Reuters - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- CNN in Iran: Behind the scenes with our team - CNN - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- A fragile ceasefire in the Israel-Iran war tests the harmony of Los Angeles' huge Iranian community - AP News - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Nuclear Inspectors Leave Iran After Cooperation Halted With U.N. Watchdog - The New York Times - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Israel concealed information about Iran's destruction of five military sites, satellite images show - Tehran Times - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Only diplomacy will stop the atomic bomb: Reflections following the war against Iran - EL PAS English - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Readers sound off on what Iran achieved, Diddys jurors and Sen. Lisa Murkowski - New York Daily News - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- American Solo Traveler Was in Iran When It Was Bombed. She Documents How She Fled the Country (Exclusive) - People.com - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Iran hit five Israeli military bases in 12-day war The Telegraph - - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Why Hamas can keep fighting without Iran, and what that means for Israel - opinion - The Jerusalem Post - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Iran's uranium supply chain must be thwarted as nuclear program grows - The Jerusalem Post - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Why Im banned from Iran, Israel and the US despite breaking no rules - The Telegraph - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Why Trump stopped calling on Iran to surrender - The Spectator World - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- A week into the fragile Israel-Iran peace agreement, heres what we still dont know - AP News - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Dont look away from whats happening in Iran - The Boston Globe - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Its offensive: voices from Iran as fans face 2026 World Cup travel ban - The Guardian - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Tucker Carlson interviews the president of IRAN - Daily Mail - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Divine justice: IAF is Gods army, striking Iran as prophesized in the Bible - The Times of Israel - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- New Cold War?: US faces long-term battle to contain Iran after Trump's strike on their nuclear facilities - Fox News - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- The Israel-Iran war has not yet transformed the Middle East - The Economist - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Opinion | Iran Is Terrorizing Its Own Citizens. The World Needs to Respond. - The New York Times - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Trump meets with Saudi defense minister at the White House and discusses situation in Iran - Axios - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- US issues first wave of Iran sanctions after ceasefire in 12-day war - Al Jazeera - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- France demands immediate release of French couple held in Iran for three years - Reuters - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- US-Iran nuclear talks to resume in Oslo next week for first time since war report - The Times of Israel - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Will Trumps Strikes on Iran Really Stop Its Nuclear Program? - The New York Times - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Between Gaza and Iran, Israel's Hidden War in the West Bank Is Flaring Up - Newsweek - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- After ceasefire, Iran is preparing for the long war with Israel - Middle East Eye - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Iran becomes the latest Russian ally to discover the limits of Kremlin support - Atlantic Council - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Trump says Iran wants to meet 'very badly' after US strikes - - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Iran can still build nuclear weapons without further enrichment. Only diplomacy will stop it - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Pentagon says US strikes set back Iran nuclear program one to two years - The Guardian - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Assessing the U.S. Article 51 Letter for the Attack on Iran: Legal Lipstick on the Use of Force Pig - Just Security - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Suspected Iran spies accused of plotting assassination of senior figure in Israel - The Times of Israel - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Will Iran conflicts aftermath drive Israel, Saudi Arabia towards normalization? - Breaking Defense - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Israel's economy can't survive a long war with Iran - and Trump knows it - Middle East Eye - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- US slams Iran for unacceptable suspension of ties with UN nuclear watchdog - The Times of Israel - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- U.S. Launches Eighth Round of Sanctions Targeting Iran's Oil and Tankers - The Maritime Executive - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Opinion | John Bolton: Trumps Work in Iran Has Only Begun - The New York Times - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Iran assesses the damage and lashes out after Israeli and US strikes damage its nuclear sites - AP News - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Iran Suspected of Scouting Jewish Targets in Europe - WSJ - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Opinion | War With Iran Exposes the Emptiness of the Axis of Autocracy - Politico - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Iran Pivots Toward China, But Is Beijing Ready To Play Ball? - Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- The global implications of the US strikes on Iran - Brookings - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Iran readied to mine Strait of Hormuz after Israel began strikes US sources - The Times of Israel - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]