U.S. Expresses Hope for Change in Iran's 'Failed' Approach

On Tuesday, December 20, during a press conference in Washington, U.S. State Department spokesperson Meto Miller referred to recent developments in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria, advising Iranian officials to change their 'failed' approach. Miller expressed hope that the Iranian government would reconsider its failed policies and choose a path of de-escalation and improved relations with its neighbors, rather than continuing to fuel instability and support terrorism. He added that if he were in the position of Iranian leaders, he would view the past decade's actions, which supported terrorism and regional instability, as a 'failed strategy.' Miller noted that Tehran had pursued a strategy of threatening Israel from outside its borders, conducting repeated terrorist attacks against civilians within Israel, and of course, terrorist attacks against other countries throughout the region. Following the deaths of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders by the Israeli army in recent months in retaliation for last year's terrorist attack, the so-called 'resistance' axis that the Islamic Republic has spent billions to create has been destroyed. According to Western military officials, following Israel's attack on Iranian positions within the country on October 27, which was in retaliation for the Islamic Republic's missile attack on September 30, Iran's air defense system has been completely destroyed. Regarding what policy the Islamic Republic might adopt in light of recent failures, Miller stated that if it pursues another nuclear policy, it has been clearly stated that the U.S. will not allow the Iranian government to acquire nuclear weapons. On Monday, the UK, France, and Germany issued a joint statement condemning the Islamic Republic's recent actions in developing its nuclear program and called for a reversal of this trend and an immediate halt to the expansion of Iran's nuclear activities. The three countries added in their statement that 'the actions of the Islamic Republic have further hollowed out the so-called JCPOA nuclear agreement and increased the stockpile of enriched uranium, which has no valid civilian justification.'