US Election/Candidates Trump-Harris Positions on Iran

Iran's threatening behavior toward the United States and its ally, Israel, is one of the few foreign policy issues addressed during the election campaign by both presidential candidates, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. VOA correspondent Michael Lipin examines Vice President Harris and former President Trump's different approaches to dealing with the threat posed by Iran and its allies.

The Democratic presidential candidate has focused her relatively brief comments on Iran on one concept: defense. "And know that I will not hesitate to take whatever action is necessary to protect our forces and our interests from Iran and Iranian-backed terrorists," Vice President Harris said during a speech at the Democratic National Convention.

During the debate with her Republican rival, former President Donald Trump, she vowed to extend this protectionist approach to Israel as well. "I will always give Israel the opportunity to defend itself, particularly with regard to Iran and any threat to Israel from Iran and its associates," said Vice President Harris.

The Biden-Harris administration helped Israel fend off Iran's unprecedented airstrike in April. US warships were sent to the region last month to prevent a repeat of such an attack by Iran.

Emphasizing such an approach can have an impact on voters.

"I think she knows that Americans are tired of war and she certainly doesn't want to look like she's looking for another war. So protection is preferred by people. But Americans are suspicious of the defense sector, particularly because of its history over the last quarter of a century," says Michael O'Hanlon, director of foreign policy research at the Brookings Institution.

But the Biden-Harris administration saw an increase in aggression from Iran's allies in August, with attacks on bases in Iraq and Syria and the execution of an American hostage in Gaza.

"There has been no response from the United States at all. They continued in defensive positions. "My concern is that Iran is getting the message that they can continue to provoke and escalate the situation as they wish, and that all the US will be able to do will be in response, so it will not have the initiative," he says. Victoria Coates, from the Heritage Foundation.

Former President Trump highlights his history of imposing sanctions on Iran for malign activity during his presidency.

"I told China and other countries, 'if you buy from Iran, we will not allow you to do business in our country, and we will put tariffs over 100% on every product you send here,'" said former President Donald Trump, during speech in the Republican National Assembly. During the debate, he accused the Biden-Harris administration of enriching Iran and its associates, thus easing their pressure.

Former President Trump also promised to address the threat from Iran, but gave no further details. "Look at what's happening in the Middle East... I'm going to resolve this very quickly," he said. During his tenure, former President Trump ran a two-year campaign of "maximum pressure" on Iran.

By not recommitting to such a strategy, he preserves the possibility of establishing a new policy that could apply more rapid pressure on Iran. A common thread between Vice President Harris and former President Trump is that both candidates have not said how they would act if Iran develops a nuclear bomb, a possibility Iranian officials have signaled. /voa/