Biden’s Iran policy disregards the desires of the Iranian people: embracing freedom, not terrorism
The Biden administration’s mishaps continue even after the Iranian New Year has passed.
These errors perfectly illustrate Washington’s approach to Tehran: inattentive and tone-deaf.
President Biden’s message for the Iranian new year, known as Nowruz in Persian, oddly shifted focus from the plight of Iranian protesters to the situation in the Gaza Strip.
However, it is important to note that Gazans, as well as Palestinians and Arabs in general, do not celebrate this pre-Islamic Iranian holiday marking the arrival of spring. Iranian protesters have criticized their government for prioritizing Islamism over nationalism and supporting terror proxies like Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip.
Since 2009, Iranian protesters have been vocal about their allegiance to Iran and opposition to the government’s support for groups like Hamas and Hezbollah.
The divide between the Iranian government and its people has led to increased criticism of the regime’s focus on the Palestinian cause rather than addressing domestic issues.
While there have been government-backed pro-Palestinian protests in Iran, the Iranian diaspora has actively shown support for Israel through social media and public demonstrations.
Unfortunately, the Biden administration’s missteps continued with an Instagram post featuring a controversial figure, Faezeh Rafsanjani, who is viewed unfavorably by many Iranians. The portrayal of Rafsanjani as a defender of Iranian women stirred significant criticism.
The administration’s approach to Iran reflects a misguided prioritization of appeasement over genuine support for the Iranian people’s desires. Despite ongoing tensions with Iran, the Biden administration has reportedly engaged in secret talks with Iranian officials and waived select energy sanctions on Tehran.
These missteps should serve as a lesson for a more effective US policy towards Iran, focusing on maximum pressure on the regime and maximum support for the Iranian people.
Saeed Ghasseminejad is a senior advisor on Iran at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, where Behnam Ben Taleblu is a senior fellow.
