Iranian involvement in the Ukraine war through the transfer of drones to Russia is an opportunity for the US administration to change direction and benefit on all fronts.
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Replacing the lax policy toward Iran with a more aggressive one will exact a price on Tehran for its decision to assist Russia militarily and side with President Vladimir Putin in the head-on confrontation with NATO.
But such a decision would benefit Biden in more than one way. It will pave the way for the restoration of ties with Saudi Arabia and Gulf states, stop their rapprochement with Russia and China and help deal with the global energy crisis.
It will also encourage the Iranians who are desperate for support against the regime's repressive policies. Instead of quarreling with Saudi Arabia, being humiliated by Iran, and continuing to falter in the three of his most immediate international challenges – the Ukraine war, the global energy crisis, and the Iran nuclear threat – this is the Biden administration's opportunity to achieve great success. Such a just and worthy policy will affect the future of the region and strengthen America's position in the emerging world order.
The Oct. 17 drone attack on Kyiv signaled a degree of rapprochement between Moscow and Tehran, in the shadow of the war and the nuclear deal debate. Although Iran denies it, the regime has provided Russia with a fleet of suicide drones.
According to reports in the US, Tehran will also supply Moscow with surface-to-surface missiles to attack cities and military bases in Ukraine. Although this is not the first time that Tehran has sided with the opponents of the West, this time it does so blatantly, through military aid, in a time of war and amid Russia's struggle against Ukraine and NATO countries.
The White House's warnings against such involvement have had no impact on Iran. America's weakening position in the Middle East and efforts to court the ayatollah regime in the nuclear negotiations have strengthened Tehran's self-confidence and defiance toward the West.
In doing so, Iran has once again proved that the threat posed by it and its arms industry is not limited to Israel and the region alone, but rather that this threat is a challenge to stability and peace in the entire world. In fact, the Islamic republic has positioned itself as an active player in the conflict with the democratic-liberal camp led by the United States.
And this is how Iran acts before it has nuclear weapons, having seemingly recognized the plight of the West and the weakness of the US policy, of which it is taking full advantage.
Saudia Arabia and other Gulf states are also aware of this. The decision of these countries' leaders to ignore US pleas for oil dashed Biden's hopes of seeing them join efforts in the face of the global energy crisis.
America's disappointment is evident in the announcement issued by the White House about its intention to reevaluate ties with Saudi Arabia, although it is uncertain whether such a threat will be effective.
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Perhaps it will achieve the exact opposite and will only exacerbate Riyadh's disappointment with the Biden administration, with what is perceived as a condescending attitude, and especially with his march towards Iran on the backs of those who are perceived as his allies in the region. Such US conduct may actually push Saudi Arabia and its partners into the hands of Russia and China.
Now the US has the opportunity to solve these problems with one decision alone: to change its policy vis-a-vis Iran. It might even help its ties with other European countries.
This is an opportunity to stop Iran's nuclear ambitions that threaten world peace, to strengthen the position of the US in the Middle East, to strengthen American leadership in the challenges it faces, and prove it has the ability to bring order and stability to the global system, the lack of which is currently evident in almost every corner.
