Iran's War With Ukraine and Its Threat to the United States
The New York Times and other media outlets report that the Biden Administration is struggling with a new threat from Iran: using U.S. technology and components in the drones Iran provides to attack innocent people in Ukraine. After examining the wreckage of drones provided to Russia by Iran—and fired into Ukraine—the U.S. discovered many American-made parts in the drones. The Biden Administration is working on plans to deprive Iran of the needed parts. It is not an easy task. Iran has proved creative and successful at bypassing sanctions and isolation efforts from the U.S. as they have made huge leaps in their pursuit of nuclear weapons.
Part of the challenge are the various countries that help Iran by ignoring sanctions and U.N. resolutions and providing forbidden materials to the terrorist state. This is done routinely by China, Russia, North Korea, and numerous other nations. Even some corporations in the United States have at times provided Iran with items which fall into the category of dual-use technology: materials whose primary use is in civilian projects but can also be used in the development of weapons and other military uses. Additionally, when a U.S. drone crashed into the Iranian desert in 2011, the Obama Administration debated the idea of sending in Navy Seals to destroy the drone. Obama eventually decided against the mission. Iran took possession of the crashed drone and reverse-engineered the drone. It was a huge advancement of Iran’s research and development of drones to be used not only for spying—but as a weapon as well.
The United States is reaching out to our longstanding ally, Israel, in trying to stop the use of U.S. components in the Iranian-made drones. Israel has been very transparent about its resolve to attack Iran’s nuclear weapons facilities and programs. Israel has attacked Iranian troops and proxies in Syria and—while not always admitting it—is believed to be responsible for assassinations and sabotage in Iran itself to counter threats to the Jewish state. We need Israel’s help on this.
Israel and Saudi Arabia are our most important partners in the Middle East as we try to stop Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons and its ongoing exportation of terror throughout the region and the world. Countries in the Middle East have drawn closer to Israel as they recognize the true threat Iran poses to every nation in the area. The Abraham Accords is but one example of these new and important relationships between Israel and the Arab nations in the area.
Our enemies are also banding together in their hatred of the United States and worldwide freedom as they assist Iran. While they are alliances of convenience, they pose a real threat. These same nations have been overtly and covertly supportive of Russia—the very latest state sponsor of terrorism as Putin’s military commits unthinkable war crimes in Ukraine. These new malevolent alliances include, but are not limited to, Russia, Iran, and China.
Iran is providing Russia with drones that are demolishing infrastructure and killing civilians in Ukraine. Russia and China have recently adopted agreements with Iran that include military cooperation. Putin and China’s President Xi met virtually last week and celebrated their partnerships, vowing closer ties even as Russia bombards Ukraine. There is concern that, in response to Iranian support, Russia will provide the means for Iran to finally acquire their first nuclear weapon. Russia is running short on missiles in the Ukrainian war and Iran may now begin providing missiles to Russia; in violation of U.N. restrictions, Iran possesses the largest arsenal of missiles in the region.
It is good that the Biden Administration recognizes the issue of Iran using attack drones that utilize U.S. technology and parts. It will be a difficult problem to address. Sanctions and import/export controls have a limited—and usually long-term—effect. Iran does have supply chain issues, which the Biden team will try to make worse. Iran still faces U.S. and international sanctions that bite the Iranian economy. But completely stopping Iran’s production of drones with U.S. components is not likely to succeed. While they are not talking about it, the Iran nuclear deal is dead, thankfully. But President Biden needs to talk about it and name the threat that Iran poses to the world.
The Biden White House must name our adversaries and recognize them as such. The list includes China, Iran, and Russia. (Our trade relationship with China must not inhibit our being honest and candid about the communist nation.) These nations do not share our values. They suppress freedom and routinely violate human rights. They are notorious for extrajudicial killings, illegal detainment of citizens from other countries, and false imprisonment of their own people. All three nations are intent on expanding their borders and influence, even when it violates the sovereignty of their neighbors.
Most of the time these three countries stand for everything the United States is against. That is the reality of this geo-political landscape. This reality must shape U.S. policies and guide us as we lead the world in opposition to the alliances that run counter to democracy, individual freedom, human rights, and the rule of law.