US Tightens the Screw on Iran: What's the Plan?

The US is ramping up its efforts to squeeze Iran. The Treasury Department's big shot for sanctions, John Hurley, is jetting off to the Middle East and Europe to talk strategy. His itinerary includes stops in Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, and Lebanon. This trip is all about Trump's "maximum pressure" campaign on Iran. The goal? To cut off Iran's access to money and stop its nuclear program. The US says Iran is up to no good, trying to build nuclear weapons under the cover of a civilian energy program. Iran says it's all about peaceful energy. Hurley is expected to talk about how to put more pressure on Iran's allies in the region. In the UAE, he'll also discuss fighting money laundering and terrorism financing. In Turkey, the focus will be on stopping sanctions evasion and regional troublemaking. This isn't the first time the US has tried to pressure Iran. In his first term, Trump pulled the US out of a 2015 deal that limited Iran's nuclear activities. In September, the UN reinstated an arms embargo and other sanctions on Iran. But will this new push work? It's hard to say. Iran has weathered sanctions before. And not everyone agrees with the US approach. Some argue it only makes things worse. Still, the US seems determined to give it a shot.