CRS Issue Statement on Iran

Kenneth Katzman, Coordinator
Specialist in Middle Eastern Affairs

President Obama has said his Administration shares the goals of previous Administrations to contain Iran's strategic capabilities and regional influence, and his Administration did not change the previous Administration's characterization of Iran as a "profound threat to U.S. national security interests." That assessment has been generated not only by Iran's nuclear and missile programs but also by its assistance to armed groups in Iraq, Afghanistan, the Palestinian territories, and Lebanon. The Obama Administration formulated approaches to achieve those goals that differ from those of its predecessor by expanding direct diplomatic engagement with Iran's government and by downplaying discussion of potential U.S. military action against Iranian nuclear facilities. However, the domestic unrest in Iran that has burgeoned since alleged fraud in Iran's June 12, 2009 presidential election has presented the Administration with a choice of whether to continue to engage Iran's government or to back the growing ranks of the Iranian opposition. In the second session of the 111th Congress, Members are likely to assess and potentially try to shape U.S. policy regarding these issues. Some legislation passed in the first session of the 111th Congress sought to promote free expression in Iran and to curb Iran's ability to censor or monitor the internet, which remains the opposition's key vehicle of communication. 

Although Administration statements have grown progressively more supportive of the opposition since the unrest began in June 2009, the Administration remains open to negotiating a nuclear deal with Iran along the lines of a multilateral agreement outlined, with Iran, on October 1, 2009. Under that framework, Russia and France would reprocess some of Iran's low-enriched uranium for medical use. However, as of January 2010, Iran has not agreed to the stipulated technical details of such a reprocessing program, casting doubts on Iran's commitment to the tentative deal and sparking renewed discussions of new U.N. sanctions. U.S. allies and other countries appear to be converging on sanctions that would target members and companies of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps, which is the main force used by the regime to crack down against the protesters.


Date of Report: January 13, 2010
Number of Pages: 4
Order Number: IS40338
Price: $7.95

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