Biden Hasn’t Given an Iran Speech, State of the Union is His Opportunity

President Biden has made a mainstay of his foreign policy standing up for democracy around the world and supporting U.S. partners fighting against aggressive authoritarian states, mentioning these topics in nearly 50 speeches over the last two years. Except when it comes to Iran. Unlike his predecessors, two years into his tenure the president has never given a speech dedicated to Iran, neither supporting the democratic demands of protesters in Iran, helping America’s Middle East partners defend themselves against Iranian attacks, nor addressing the nuclear talks.

His State of the Union address on February 7, 2023, presents the perfect opportunity to rectify this oversight. President Biden should use the State of Union to announce a Plan B Iran policy that provides greater support for anti-regime protests in Iran, strengthens the U.S. commitment to America’s partners in the Middle East, and moves past the “dead” JCPOA by exerting greater pressure on the regime. The American people deserve to know where the president stands on one of the most pressing national security issues of the day.

Click here to read the NatSec Brief.