The US is ignoring Iran’s religious agenda at its own peril - opinion
The Trump administration needs to be conscious that Iran is not only an Islamic state and not only a Shi’ite variety, but the elites directing the country are steeped in its Twelver sect version.
Assessment
The piece argues that U.S. policy toward Iran underestimates the ideological and eschatological convictions of its leadership. The core risk is that Washington treats Tehran as a rational state actor while its decision making is shaped by messianic Twelver Shi'ite doctrine. The reader should watch whether the Trump administration adjusts its strategy to account for these religious drivers, especially in nuclear talks or regional proxy conflicts.