Richard Charles Baffa

Mounting economic hardship is fueling persistent unrest in Iran, now characterized by labor strikes across the country and anti-regime sentiment. New sanctions stemming from President Trump's decision to withdraw from the nuclear deal may well exacerbate already difficult economic conditions. Now may be the right time to exert maximum pressure on the regime in an effort to bring Tehran back to the negotiating table. Last December and January, demonstrations flared across Iran.

With the appointment of John Bolton as national security adviser and the nomination of Mike Pompeo as secretary of state, the Trump administration seems to be tilting toward abrogating the Iran nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in May. Nevertheless, such a move would not necessarily portend an Iranian race to a nuclear bomb, at least for now. It is clear from their public statements that neither Bolton nor Pompeo support the agreement as written.

The recent military clashes between Israeli, Iranian, and Syrian forces have injected new volatility into an already explosive Middle East, increasing the likelihood of miscalculation and escalatory military action across the region. As the Syrian civil war grinds on, the pressing concern is not an all-out war between Israel and a Syria whose military has been substantially depleted.