Joe Biden: The Iranian Government and Its Proxies Were Severely Weakened During My Presidency

On Monday, January 13, Joe Biden, the President of the United States, spoke about U.S. foreign policy during his four years in the White House, stating that during this period, the Iranian government and its proxies in the Middle East were severely weakened. He referred to the Islamic Republic's guiding role in attacks on Israel and ultimately two direct attacks by the Iranian government on Israel, reminding that the U.S. formed a coalition of several countries to provide direct support to Israel against the Islamic Republic. The U.S. President also mentioned that Iran's economy has collapsed under the Islamic Republic's rule and that the government of Bashar al-Assad, one of Iran's closest allies, has fallen. He added that Israel has inflicted significant damage on the Islamic Republic and its proxy groups, including Hezbollah. Joe Biden emphasized that the U.S. will not allow the Islamic Republic of Iran to ever acquire nuclear weapons. In another part of his speech, he stated that the U.S. has overcome many crises during his presidency and has become stronger compared to the past four years. According to him, the political, diplomatic, military, and economic power of the U.S. has increased globally. Biden pointed out the increased contributions of other NATO member countries to its funding, strengthened cooperation with countries in the Pacific region, and the establishment of a coalition of 20 countries against Houthi attacks in the Red Sea. He also referred to Putin's failure to advance his plans in Ukraine and stated that the U.S. must continue to support Ukraine. Joe Biden, who will soon hand over the presidency to Donald Trump, emphasized the need for a ceasefire in the Gaza war and the release of hostages taken by Hamas. Before Biden's remarks, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also briefly addressed the importance of engagement with the world and the U.S. leadership's strength globally. Blinken referred to the revival of U.S. policies worldwide and Biden's unwavering leadership in advancing U.S. policies, stating that he is proud to serve in Biden's administration. Biden has repeatedly highlighted the priority of a diplomatic solution to address the Islamic Republic's nuclear program during his presidency, but he has always stressed that all options are on the table to counter the destabilizing actions of the Iranian government, especially its nuclear adventures. Another significant action by Biden regarding the Islamic Republic was his refusal to remove the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps from the list of foreign terrorist organizations. The Biden administration played a crucial role in defending Israel during both direct Iranian attacks on Israel on April 14 and September 2, neutralizing projectiles fired by the Iranian government towards Israel. From the early hours of the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack on Israel, Biden emphasized Israel's right and duty to defend its citizens and stated that the U.S. commitment to Israel's security is 'ironclad.' At the same time, Biden has repeatedly stressed the need for a ceasefire, the release of Israeli hostages taken to Gaza, and the improvement of conditions for civilians in Gaza. The Biden administration's policy regarding Putin's invasion of Ukraine has consistently emphasized Ukraine's independence and sovereignty rights, providing comprehensive support to Ukrainian defenders against Russian occupiers. Over the past years, the U.S. and its allies have imposed extensive sanctions on the Russian government and provided significant economic and military support packages to the Ukrainian government.