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Restoring Deterrence with Iran

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Posted: June 18th, 2019

By Steven Ward

Steven R. Ward is a retired CIA intelligence analyst and consultant who specializes in Middle East security affairs. He is the author of Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence: A Concise History, Georgetown University Press, 2024.

Putting Iran in a desperate situation without viable alternatives is likely to result in desperate responses.

Two oil tankers carrying Japanese-related cargo were attacked in the Gulf of Oman last week. Shortly after the incident, Secretary of State Pompeo announced that Washington assessed Tehran was behind the attacks. Beyond the usual warnings, however, he had nothing to offer to reduce the likelihood of future Iranian response to Washington’s “maximum pressure” campaign. He doubled-down on his assertions on the subsequent Sunday talk shows.

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