Washington, We Have a Problem: Iran's Neighbors Refuse American Pressure to Close Their Borders
According to a report in the New York Times, countries such as Turkey, Iraq, and Pakistan oppose taking an active part in expanding the economic siege on Tehran to also include overland trade. Sources familiar…
Assessment
The United States is discovering that its maximum pressure strategy against Iran has a land border problem. Turkey, Iraq, and Pakistan are refusing to close their borders to Iranian trade, fearing economic damage to themselves. This means Washington cannot seal off Iran's economy without cooperation it does not have. The next question is whether the U.S. can offer enough incentives to change those calculations, or whether the land routes will remain open regardless of American policy.