What is the potential for using economic sanctions to persuade Iran to reverse its actions in Syria? Analysis should also include consideration of whether the US could or should use an Iranian intervention in Syria as an excuse to move to eliminate the Iranian nuclear program and/or instigate a change of leadership in Tehran. The legal implications of this should be assessed. In such a case, what are the likely responses of the key nations in the region: Israel, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Egypt, Turkey? How will the US global reputation be shaped by the potential range of US responses? If the US refrains from acting forcefully, will this be perceived as a continued withdraw of the US from Middle Eastern affairs or can a forceful US response be seen as a reassertion of US power in the region following a decade of setbacks? How will the US Congress and American people react during a debate about potential US intervention in the Middle East? Is there support in Congress for a confrontation with Iran? What levels of intervention would be acceptable to Congress and the American people? Attention should be paid to the various policy options available to the US. The following list should not be seen as excluding other options: Continued diplomatic pressure only. An intensification of multilateral diplomacy through the UN and regional organizations. Increased material support for select non-radical members of the Syrian opposition. Naval options in the Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea (including Suez Canal), Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea, and Indian Ocean. The use of US and Western airpower to support select non-radical rebels and to disrupt and degrade the impact of the Iranian intervention. Reintroduction of large scale US military forces into Iraq as an obstacle to Iranian moves and as an increase in US efforts against ISIL. US air strikes against Syrian and Iranian targets to weaken both regimes’ ability to engage in military operations. US air strikes designed to undermine both regimes as a first step toward regime change in Damascus and Tehran. What is the end game? In the best of all possible worlds, how do we see the Syrian civil war ending and what are the implications of that scenario? In the
What is the potential for using economic sanctions to persuade Iran to reverse its actions in Syria? Analysis should also include consideration of whether the US could or should use an Iranian intervention in Syria as an excuse to move to eliminate the Iranian nuclear program and/or instigate a change of leadership in Tehran. The legal implications of this should be assessed. In such a case, what are the likely responses of the key nations in the region: Israel, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Egypt, Turkey? How will the US global reputation be shaped by the potential range of US responses? If the US refrains from acting forcefully, will this be perceived as a continued withdraw of the US from Middle Eastern affairs or can a forceful US response be seen as a reassertion of US power in the region following a decade of setbacks? How will the US Congress and American people react during a debate about potential US intervention in the Middle East? Is there support in Congress for a confrontation with Iran? What levels of intervention would be acceptable to Congress and the American people? Attention should be paid to the various policy options available to the US. The following list should not be seen as excluding other options: Continued diplomatic pressure only. An intensification of multilateral diplomacy through the UN and regional organizations. Increased material support for select non-radical members of the Syrian opposition. Naval options in the Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea (including Suez Canal), Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea, and Indian Ocean. The use of US and Western airpower to support select non-radical rebels and to disrupt and degrade the impact of the Iranian intervention. Reintroduction of large scale US military forces into Iraq as an obstacle to Iranian moves and as an increase in US efforts against ISIL. US air strikes against Syrian and Iranian targets to weaken both regimes’ ability to engage in military operations. US air strikes designed to undermine both regimes as a first step toward regime change in Damascus and Tehran. What is the end game? In the best of all possible worlds, how do we see the Syrian civil war ending and what are the implications of that scenario? In the
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