Iran: U.S. Concerns and Policy Responses: RL32048.

According to an Administration national security strategy document released on March 16, 2006, the United States "may face no greater challenge from a single country than Iran." Over the past five years, the Bush Administration has pursued several avenues to attempt to contain or end what it views as the potential threat posed by Iran, including pursuing limited engagement directly or through allies. However, support for a policy of changing Iran's regime has apparently gained favor within the Administration as Iran has resisted permanent curbs on its nuclear program. In the nearer term, the Administration is intent on slowing or blunting Iran's nuclear program through concerted action by the United Nations Security Council. Because Iran continues to advance its nuclear program despite international criticism, some advocate military action against Iran's nuclear infrastructure. International concerns on nuclear issues and other strategic issues have been heightened by the accession of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a hardliner, as president. Iran's nuclear program is not the only major U.S. concern on Iran. Successive administrations have pointed to the threat posed by Iran's policy in the Near East region, particularly material support to groups that use violence against the U.S.-led Middle East peace process, including Hizballah in Lebanon and the Palestinian groups Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Hamas is forming a new Palestinian government following its victory in January 25, 2006, elections, a development that might cause Hamas to distance itself from terrorism. Alternately, Hamas might hold fast to its rejection of Israel and look to Iran or other hardline Middle Eastern states to circumvent any U.S. or Israeli efforts to pressure the new Hamas-led government. Some senior Al Qaeda activists are in Iran as well, although Iran claims they are "in custody." U.S. officials also accuse Iran of attempting to exert its influence in Iraq by providing arms and other material assistance to armed factions, possibly including anti-U.S. Shiite Islamist factions. However, most Iranian-supported factions in Iraq are supportive of the U.S.-led political transition roadmap, and the two announced in March 2006 that they would hold bilateral talks on the issue of stabilizing Iraq. Iran's human rights practices and strict limits on democracy have been consistently criticized by official U.S. and U.N. reports, particularly for Iran's suppression of political dissidents and religious and ethnic minorities. However, Iran holds elections for many senior positions, including that of president. U.S. officials generally see the human rights issue in Iran in a broader context, and not necessarily as a direct threat, in and of itself, to U.S. interests in the region. For further information, see CRS Report <a target="_blank" href="/document/RS20871">RS20871</a>, The Iran-Libya Sanctions Act (ILSA), by Kenneth Katzman; CRS Report <a target="_blank" href="/document/RS21592">RS21592</a>, Iran's Nuclear Program: Recent Developments, by Sharon Squassoni; CRS Report <a target="_blank" href="/document/RS21548">RS21548</a>, Iran's Ballistic Missile Capabilities, by Andrew Feickert; and CRS Report <a target="_blank" href="/document/RS22323">RS22323</a>, Iran's Influence in Iraq, by Kenneth Katzman. This report will be updated as warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]