As Iranians take to the streets over legitimate political and economic grievances, President Trump is expected to decide in the coming days whether the United States will use force against the regime under the pretext of protecting protesters.
Striking Iran risks both entangling Washington in this domestic upheaval without a clear endgame and endangering US troops stationed across the Middle East.
Hawkish US policies toward Iran have historically empowered hardliners—renewed US military action risks changing the subject from Iranians’ justified grievances against the regime to its international opponents. Trying to appropriate domestic opposition inside Iran risks undermining it.
Those clamoring for American involvement will likely press for sustained US engagement to ensure the regime’s demise and manage an internal transition—something the United States should avoid given its overextension abroad.
The future of Iran belongs to the Iranian people. A pragmatic, hands-off approach should guide US policy in the days ahead.