Former U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on March 27 that the future of American and Israeli involvement in the ongoing war with Iran will likely be shaped by economic pressures and military resources, as both sides exchanged ceasefire proposals and renewed attacks this week.
Blinken made these remarks during a discussion with David Sanger, a White House and national security correspondent for The New York Times, at Harvard Kennedy School. He explained that concerns about global energy markets, financial exchanges in the United States, and Israel’s supply of missile interceptors would act as “guardrails” on how far the administration is willing to go.
Reflecting on previous administrations’ approaches to Iran, Blinken discussed how President Obama opted for diplomacy over military action to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. This led to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which he helped negotiate while serving as deputy national security adviser and later as deputy secretary of state. He said military action was deemed too risky at the time because it could result in Iran rebuilding its nuclear capabilities out of reach underground.
Blinken noted that after President Trump withdrew from the JCPOA in 2018, Iran continued producing fissile materials and shortened its breakout time for creating a weapon from over a year to just one or two weeks. He warned that recent bombing campaigns by Israel and the United States may push Iran further toward pursuing nuclear arms if its regime remains intact.
Addressing criticism regarding U.S. support for Israel during its conflict with Hamas following attacks on Oct. 7, 2023, Blinken acknowledged humanitarian concerns in Gaza: “When it comes to Gaza … given the level of human suffering, given the horrific loss of life among Palestinian women, men, and children, you can’t help but ask yourself on a regular basis could we, should we have done something different? And the short answer is maybe yes.” He said efforts were made to achieve a ceasefire and deliver aid but admitted limitations existed.
Looking ahead, Blinken emphasized diplomacy: “There is so much strength to be found in numbers and in alignment… I think that’s where we need to go…as we deal with China in the years ahead.”
