Iran Faces a Growing Internal Crisis

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  By Chuck Wald We have passed the six-month mark of the war between the United States and the Iranian regime. Whatever Tehran’s rhetoric may suggest, its theocratic dictatorship is weaker today than at any point since its establishment in the aftermath of the 1979 Revolution. As this situation continues to unfold, it is increasingly important for Western governments and the broader international community to consider the policies needed to help bring about change driven not by foreign intervention, but by the Iranian people and their organized resistance.  The country’s economy, already suffering from years of decline before the war, is now exhibiting some of its worst indicators in decades, including inflation exceeding 100 percent on key consumer goods. Predictably, these pressures have intensified factional infighting within the regime. The turmoil has been compounded by the loss of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on the first day of the war, February 28.  Khamenei has be...
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IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL MUST BE EXPANDED TO ADDRESS ISSUES PREVIOUSLY NEGLECTED

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By Poorang Novak
In 2015, the Iran nuclear agreement, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was signed and implementation began. However, many broader challenges posed by Iran were overlooked when the deal was negotiated. Many people say the cons of the Iran nuclear deal overshadow the pros.
Tehran continues to advance its ballistic missile arsenal, meddle in the Middle East, and escalate domestic human rights violations, as these issues were not addressed under the nuclear accord. Now these matters must be addressed and alterations are necessary. Many believe that the best approach may be compromising with Tehran to expand the scope of the Nuclear Deal.
Still, the easily overlooked fact is that Iran continues to launch missiles and engage in wars on numerous frontiers.
After the Taliban lost in Afghanistan, Tehran reportedly began its meddling objectives, such as fueling unrest in this country and recruiting Shiite fighters for the war in Syria. Now Iran stands accused of providing arms and explosives to Taliban fighters.
Iran also took advantage of the 2003 Iraq war. Tehran’s political, social and economic impact in Mesopotamia is seen by many as undeniable, and is believed to have caused problems across the land, including sectarian wars against the minority Sunni community. It’s reported that Iran’s efforts continue under the banner of fighting the IS group.
The six year war in Syria has been bloody and brutal. Tehran has continued to maintain Bashar Assad’s dictatorship. Over half a million Syrians have been killed, and 12 million are displaced inside the country and abroad. As well, much country is considered destroyed. The money received by Tehran under the JCPOA is said to have financed much of this.
In Yemen, Iran has apparently spread its reach and influence into the backyard of regional arch-rival, and an important US ally, Saudi Arabia. Reports say that Iran continues to funnel of arms, equipment, and money to the Houthis in Yemen, and is threatening vital international shipping lines in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden with sea mines, anti-ship missiles and suicide boats packed explosives. Again, support of these activities is alleged to have been provided by financial benefits of the JCPOA.
It is believed by some that appeasing Iran produced a highly flawed pact that merely curbed its nuclear ambitions to a limited extent under sunset provisions, and that adopting a policy capable of ending wars across the Middle East, should be the next step.

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