Opinion piece outlines Reagan-era strategy for addressing Iran regime and nuclear program

U.S. policy toward the Soviet Union in the 1980s to propose a dual-track approach to Iran. The article states that the Soviet Union experienced leadership changes, economic stagnation, and ideological weakening during that decade. It notes that President Ronald Reagan shifted from containment to a strategy that combined political, economic, military, and ideological pressure with arms-control talks aimed at reducing nuclear risks.

The article identifies the Iranian regime as the primary source of threats to Israel and calls for efforts to strengthen Iranian opposition groups and create divisions within the regime's power structures. It recommends using military, economic, cyber, and information tools to weaken the Islamic Republic.

At the same time, the article argues that Israel and the United States should pursue limited agreements to remove enriched uranium from Iran, even if such deals involve sanctions relief. It states that the timing of any regime collapse cannot be known in advance and that nuclear risks must be addressed in the interim.

The author, identified as a senior fellow at the Jewish People Policy Institute, previously served as head of the Hezbollah and Lebanon Branch in Israeli Defense Intelligence from 2022 to 2024 and later as senior adviser to the director of IDI from 2024 to 2026.