On November 12, Iran’s Assembly of Experts, the country’s highest clerical body, urged the Government to consider withdrawing from the Non Proliferation Treaty, (NPT) which prohibits Iran and other non-nuclear signatories from acquiring nuclear weapons, and also prohibits existing nuclear powers from transferring nuclear weapons to other parties. 

This statement represents a significant potential shift in official Iranian policy, which until now has generally been to deny that Iran intends to acquire nuclear weapons, and to claim that its current stockpile exists for civilian use only. 

Keep the Strait Open, Cut Off the IRGC’s Oil Money

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said the U.S. military on Friday carried out new limited strikes on Iran, targeting an Iranian air defense system.

Iranian state media reported the sound of two explosions in the Suza area of Qeshm Island, which is in the crucial waterway for oil shipments.

The Trump Administration has settled into an economic strategy of containment and isolation against the Islamic Republic of Iran by utilizing a robust marine blockade combined with a comprehensive sanctions regime. Yet, with the completion of midterm elections, there is increased talk about renewed kinetic activity to produce American strategic successes that have been elusive thus far.

When the United States entered into a cease fire now seven long months ago it yielded the initiative. Twenty thousand successfully struck targets did much damage to Iran’s military capability, but without causing the Regime to capitulate or crumble. Bad faith negotiations by Iran, and limited and proportionate responses by the United States to Iranian provocation, have given the Regime a sense that America is unwilling to finish the job. Episodic U.S. threats that never materialized have given the Regime the security that this time will be no different.