|
Trending Topics
|
Source: https://www.nationalreview.com/magazine/2022/04/18/saving-the-ayatollahs/
Is the West Saving the Ayatollahs?
(National Review) Reuel Marc Gerecht and Ray Takeyh - Iran's economy is riddled with corruption. The regime is losing its ideological appeal and base of support. Its bickering elite constantly plot against one another. Given its continuing commitment to subvert the regional order, the clerical regime remains permanently at odds with most of its neighbors. The mullahs need a nuclear deal to give them relief from a predicament of their own making. Economic malpractice, much more than sanctions, has left the Islamic Republic routinely subject to unrest. The mullahs have never managed to tame inflation, create sufficient jobs for the young, or temper their greed. The U.S. rather desperately seeks to revive a nuclear deal with a regime that U.S. officials don't even pretend to see evolving toward moderation. Tehran is set to receive billions in sanctions relief while moving ahead with its atomic ambitions. Terrorism, imperialism, ballistic missiles, and internal repression are effectively off the table. Mr. Gerecht, a former Iranian-targets officer in the CIA, is a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Mr. Takeyh is a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.