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." To date, the Bush Administration has pursued several avenues to attempt to contain the potential threat posed by Iran, but support for a longer term 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 diplomatic and economic pressure by the United Nations Security Council or a coalition of like-minded major countries. Because Iran continues to advance its nuclear program, some advocate military action against Iran's nuclear infrastructure. Others believe the United States should undertake direct talks with Iran; in past years the Bush Administration had some limited dialogue with Iran on specific regional issues. 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 has formed a Palestinian government following its victory in January 25, 2006, elections, but it is thus far holding fast to its rejection of Israel. Iran and other Middle Eastern states are providing Hamas assistance to help circumvent U.S. and European aid cuts intended 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 influence in Iraq by providing arms and other material assistance to Shiite Islamist militias, some of which have fought U.S. and partner forces there. However, most Iranian-supported factions in Iraq are supportive of the U.S.-led political transition roadmap, and the United States and Iraq announced in March 2006 that they would hold bilateral talks on the issue of stabilizing Iraq. Talks have not been held, to date. 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 have tended to see the human rights issue in Iran as exemplifying the negative character of the Iranian regime, but not necessarily as a direct threat to U.S. interests. 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]