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U.S. Can't Negotiate with Iran as Its Proxies Attack Our Troops
(Washington Post) Josh Rogin - On Monday, armed militants launched a 14-rocket barrage on a U.S. air base in Irbil in northern Iraq. An Iranian-linked Iraqi Shiite militia quickly claimed credit. As the U.S. commences its new diplomatic engagement with Iran, the administration must insist Tehran stop its proxies from attacking Americans. Washington Institute for Near East Policy scholar Michael Knights said, "You don't negotiate with people who are nudge, nudge, wink, wink, trying to kill you at the same time." If the U.S. response is too weak, Iranian proxies in Iraq will be emboldened. Meanwhile, the leaders in Tehran are acting as if they have all the leverage, making demands and escalating their nuclear brinkmanship.