Changes

In April 2019, the U.S. designated the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a foreign terrorist organization under the U.S. State Department's "maximum pressure campaign".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/2019/04/08/710987393/u-s-labels-irans-revolutionary-guard-as-a-foreign-terrorist-organization |title=U.S. Labels Iran's Revolutionary Guard As A Foreign Terrorist Organization |website=NPR.org}}</ref> This designation and the decision to withdrawal from the [[Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action]] were done over the opposition of the DoD. Mulroy said this designation did not grant DoD nor were they seeking any additional authorities to the DoD.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/08/world/middleeast/trump-iran-revolutionary-guard-corps.html |title=Trump Designates Iran's Revolutionary Guards a Foreign Terrorist Group |last1=Wong |first1=Edward |last2=Schmitt |first2=Eric |date=April 8, 2019 |newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Benjamin|first1=Daniel|last2=Blazakis|first2=Jason|date=April 9, 2019|title=Why Trump's Latest Move Against Iran Was Pointless—and Dangerous|website=Time|url=https://time.com/5566817/iran-terrorist-designation-irgc-trump/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/mattis-iran-is-the-biggest-threat-to-mideast-peace |title=Mattis: Iran is the biggest threat to Mideast peace |date=April 22, 2016 |website=Washington Examiner}}</ref> The DoD did not believe the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Terrorists could be applied to a potential conflict with Iran.<ref>{{cite web|last=Williams|first=Katie|date=June 27, 2019|title=Pentagon Official: We Didn't Link Iran to al-Qaeda In Hill Briefings|url=https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2019/06/pentagon-official-we-didnt-link-iran-al-qaeda-hill-briefings/158082/|website=Defense One}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/trump-administration-lays-broad-legal-grounds-for-military-strike-on-iran/2019/07/03/739c3ef8-9d0d-11e9-b27f-ed2942f73d70_story.html |title=Trump administration lays broad legal grounds for military strike on Iran |last1=DeYoung |first1=Karen |last2=Ryan |first2=Missy |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref>

In April 2019, the U.S. designated the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a foreign terrorist organization under the U.S. State Department's "maximum pressure campaign".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/2019/04/08/710987393/u-s-labels-irans-revolutionary-guard-as-a-foreign-terrorist-organization |title=U.S. Labels Iran's Revolutionary Guard As A Foreign Terrorist Organization |website=NPR.org}}</ref> This designation and the decision to withdrawal from the [[Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action]] were done over the opposition of the DoD. Mulroy said this designation did not grant DoD nor were they seeking any additional authorities to the DoD.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/08/world/middleeast/trump-iran-revolutionary-guard-corps.html |title=Trump Designates Iran's Revolutionary Guards a Foreign Terrorist Group |last1=Wong |first1=Edward |last2=Schmitt |first2=Eric |date=April 8, 2019 |newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Benjamin|first1=Daniel|last2=Blazakis|first2=Jason|date=April 9, 2019|title=Why Trump's Latest Move Against Iran Was Pointless—and Dangerous|website=Time|url=https://time.com/5566817/iran-terrorist-designation-irgc-trump/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/mattis-iran-is-the-biggest-threat-to-mideast-peace |title=Mattis: Iran is the biggest threat to Mideast peace |date=April 22, 2016 |website=Washington Examiner}}</ref> The DoD did not believe the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Terrorists could be applied to a potential conflict with Iran.<ref>{{cite web|last=Williams|first=Katie|date=June 27, 2019|title=Pentagon Official: We Didn't Link Iran to al-Qaeda In Hill Briefings|url=https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2019/06/pentagon-official-we-didnt-link-iran-al-qaeda-hill-briefings/158082/|website=Defense One}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/trump-administration-lays-broad-legal-grounds-for-military-strike-on-iran/2019/07/03/739c3ef8-9d0d-11e9-b27f-ed2942f73d70_story.html |title=Trump administration lays broad legal grounds for military strike on Iran |last1=DeYoung |first1=Karen |last2=Ryan |first2=Missy |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref>

At the [[Center for a New American Security]] (CNAS), Mulroy stated that Iran posed five distinct threats. The first was the potential for obtaining a nuclear weapon. The second was maritime attacks in the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandab, in which a substantial portion of energy trade and commercial goods pass. The third was Iran's support to proxies and terrorist organizations, including [[Hezbollah]] in Lebanon and Syria, the [[Houthis]] in Yemen, some of the [[Hashd al-Shaabi]] in Iraq, and the safe-harboring of senior [[al-Qaeda]] leaders in Iran. The fourth was sending their ballistic missiles in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen for use against Saudi Arabia and in Syria with Hezbollah to use against Israel. Cyber was the fifth threat and a growing concern. After this statement, all of these threats materialized.<ref name="c-span.org" /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.eurasiareview.com/02052019-middle-east-security-still-critical-to-us-says-pentagon-official/ |title=Middle East Security Still Critical To US, Says Pentagon Official |last=News |first=DoD |date=May 2, 2019 |website=eurasiareview.com |access-date=May 5, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.defense.gov/explore/story/Article/1829790/middle-east-strategic-alliance-effort-aimed-at-stabilization/ |title=Middle East Strategic Alliance Effort Aimed at Stabilization |website=U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE}}</ref>

At the [[Center for a New American Security]] (CNAS), Mulroy stated that Iran posed five distinct threats. The first was the potential for obtaining a nuclear weapon. The second was maritime attacks in the [[Strait of Hormuz]] and the [[Bab al-Mandab]], in which a substantial portion of energy trade and commercial goods pass. The third was Iran's support to proxies and terrorist organizations, including [[Hezbollah]] in Lebanon and Syria, the [[Houthis]] in Yemen, some of the [[Hashd al-Shaabi]] in Iraq, and the safe-harboring of senior [[al-Qaeda]] leaders in Iran. The fourth was sending their ballistic missiles in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen for use against Saudi Arabia and in Syria with Hezbollah to use against Israel. Cyber was the fifth threat and a growing concern. After this statement, all of these threats materialized.<ref name="c-span.org" /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.eurasiareview.com/02052019-middle-east-security-still-critical-to-us-says-pentagon-official/ |title=Middle East Security Still Critical To US, Says Pentagon Official |last=News |first=DoD |date=May 2, 2019 |website=eurasiareview.com |access-date=May 5, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.defense.gov/explore/story/Article/1829790/middle-east-strategic-alliance-effort-aimed-at-stabilization/ |title=Middle East Strategic Alliance Effort Aimed at Stabilization |website=U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE}}</ref>

Many believe the U.S. State Department's "maximum pressure campaign" is the main cause for the increase in Iran's malign activities and the desire to acquire a nuclear weapon.<ref>{{cite web|last=Miller|first=Nicholas|date=August 15, 2019|title=Maximum Pressure Is Failing: Fact-Checking Pompeo on Iran|url=https://warontherocks.com/2019/08/maximum-pressure-is-failing-fact-checking-pompeo-on-iran/|website=War on the Rocks}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://thehill.com/opinion/national-security/454980-maximum-pressure-on-iran-has-failed-heres-what-should-come-next |title='Maximum Pressure' on Iran has failed — here's what should come next |last=Allott |first=Daniel |date=July 27, 2019 |website=TheHill}}</ref> As a result of the attacks by the IRGC on international shipping in the Gulf of Oman in the summer of 2019,<ref>{{cite web|date=June 18, 2019|title=US releases new images from suspected attacks on Gulf tankers|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/06/pentagon-releases-images-gulf-oman-attack-190618055528966.html|website=www.aljazeera.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Malekian|first=Somayeh|date=July 18, 2019|title=Iranian Revolutionary Guard seizes foreign oil tanker in Persian Gulf: State media|url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/iranian-republican-guard-seizes-foreign-oil-tanker-persian/story?id=64411931|website=ABC News}}</ref> the U.S. started the International Maritime Security Construct (IMSC). Mulroy stated that the purpose of the IMSC was to increase overall surveillance and security in the "key waterways in the Middle East."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2019/08/putin-gulf-security-plan-trump-iran-uae-saudi-arabia.html |title=Putin's Gulf security plan depends on Trump |date=August 16, 2019 |website=Al-Monitor}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Colchester|first1=Max|last2=Coles|first2=Isabel|title=Britain, U.S. to Protect Shipping Through Strait of Hormuz From Iranian Threats|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/britain-u-s-to-protect-shipping-through-strait-of-hormuz-from-iranian-threats-11565026612|website=Wall Street Journal}}</ref> These waterways include the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and the Gulf of Oman. There have been no Iranian attacks on international shipping since the IMSC began.<ref>{{cite web|last=Mylroie|first=Laurie|date=August 31, 2019|title=Pentagon: US will continue to support Peshmerga|url=https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/news/f702513a-bb39-48af-84d3-ff97c2bea2a9|website=Kurdistan24}}</ref>

Many believe the U.S. State Department's "maximum pressure campaign" is the main cause for the increase in Iran's malign activities and the desire to acquire a nuclear weapon.<ref>{{cite web|last=Miller|first=Nicholas|date=August 15, 2019|title=Maximum Pressure Is Failing: Fact-Checking Pompeo on Iran|url=https://warontherocks.com/2019/08/maximum-pressure-is-failing-fact-checking-pompeo-on-iran/|website=War on the Rocks}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://thehill.com/opinion/national-security/454980-maximum-pressure-on-iran-has-failed-heres-what-should-come-next |title='Maximum Pressure' on Iran has failed — here's what should come next |last=Allott |first=Daniel |date=July 27, 2019 |website=TheHill}}</ref> As a result of the attacks by the IRGC on international shipping in the Gulf of Oman in the summer of 2019,<ref>{{cite web|date=June 18, 2019|title=US releases new images from suspected attacks on Gulf tankers|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/06/pentagon-releases-images-gulf-oman-attack-190618055528966.html|website=www.aljazeera.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Malekian|first=Somayeh|date=July 18, 2019|title=Iranian Revolutionary Guard seizes foreign oil tanker in Persian Gulf: State media|url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/iranian-republican-guard-seizes-foreign-oil-tanker-persian/story?id=64411931|website=ABC News}}</ref> the U.S. started the International Maritime Security Construct (IMSC). Mulroy stated that the purpose of the IMSC was to increase overall surveillance and security in the "key waterways in the Middle East."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2019/08/putin-gulf-security-plan-trump-iran-uae-saudi-arabia.html |title=Putin's Gulf security plan depends on Trump |date=August 16, 2019 |website=Al-Monitor}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Colchester|first1=Max|last2=Coles|first2=Isabel|title=Britain, U.S. to Protect Shipping Through Strait of Hormuz From Iranian Threats|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/britain-u-s-to-protect-shipping-through-strait-of-hormuz-from-iranian-threats-11565026612|website=Wall Street Journal}}</ref> These waterways include the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and the Gulf of Oman. There have been no Iranian attacks on international shipping since the IMSC began.<ref>{{cite web|last=Mylroie|first=Laurie|date=August 31, 2019|title=Pentagon: US will continue to support Peshmerga|url=https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/news/f702513a-bb39-48af-84d3-ff97c2bea2a9|website=Kurdistan24}}</ref>