President Biden’s Soft Approach to Iran Backfires
President Biden’s lenient enforcement of oil sanctions against Iran has led to disastrous results, as Tehran’s theocrats have used oil export revenues to fuel violence in the Middle East. Despite inheriting leverage from the “maximum pressure” policy of his predecessor, President Trump, Biden opted for a more deferential approach, which has failed to constrain Iran’s nuclear program.
Latest Sanctions Package Targets Iran’s Illicit Oil Sales
While a recent sanctions package targeting Iran’s illicit oil sales and smuggling network is a step in the right direction, it may be too little, too late to salvage Biden’s Iran policy. The sanctions, which include penalties on vessels and companies involved in Iran’s oil trade, aim to disrupt the regime’s “ghost fleet” operations.
Iran’s Use of “Ghost Fleets” and Evasion of Sanctions
Iran’s use of “ghost fleets” to evade sanctions has increased significantly in recent years, with the country partnering with Russia to bolster its sanctions-busting expertise. These tactics include ship-to-ship transfers, blending oil, and using shell companies to obscure operations.
Impact of Biden’s Lenient Sanctions Enforcement
Under the Biden administration, lenient sanctions enforcement allowed Iran’s oil exports to surge, leading to a substantial increase in revenue. This failed to prompt Iran to negotiate in good faith and instead enabled the country to advance its nuclear, missile, and regional military ambitions.
Path Forward for the Incoming Trump Administration
The latest designations by the Biden administration can serve as a springboard for intensifying maximum pressure on Iran by the incoming Trump administration. Targeting tankers, enforcing oil and petrochemical sanctions, and disrupting Iran’s illicit oil trade with China are crucial steps in developing leverage against the regime.
Targeting Iran’s Industrial Metals Sector
The industrial metals sector, which plays a significant role in Iran’s economy and military programs, should also come under scrutiny. Expanding sanctions against sectors like nickel, lithium, and zinc, and engaging with key importers like China, Iraq, and Turkey, will be essential in limiting Iran’s revenue streams.
Course Correction Needed
The incoming Trump administration must commit to reinstituting a maximum pressure strategy to address Iran’s nuclear ambitions and regional destabilization. Enforcing existing penalties and targeting strategic sectors upon assuming office will be crucial in course correction.
About the Authors
Janatan Sayeh is a research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) in Washington DC, where Behnam Ben Taleblu is a senior director, and Saeed Ghasseminejad is a senior advisor. All three contribute to FDD’s Iran program.
This article was originally published by RealClearDefense and made available via RealClearWire.
