American officials say Iran has made “a concerted effort to rein in militias in Iraq and Syria after the United States retaliated with a series of airstrikes for the killing of three U.S. Army reservists this month,” according to The New York Times. There were initial concerns for an escalation of violence in the region, but since U.S. air strikes on Feb. 2, those officials say here have been no attacks by Iran-backed militias on American bases in Iraq and only two minor ones in Syria.
The news also comes as the United Nations’ atomic watchdog said Monday Iran reduced its stockpile of near-weapons-grade nuclear material even as it continued expanding its overall nuclear program.
Sina Azodi is a Visiting Scholar & Lecturer of International Affairs at the George Washington University, where he teaches a graduate course on Iran’s foreign policy in the Middle East. His research interests include international security, nuclear nonproliferation, and U.S.-Iranian relations. Azodi's current research involves exploring the roots of the Iranian nuclear program and his dissertation, "Continuity and Change in Iranian Nuclear Program," critically investigates the Iranian nuclear program since its inception in 1950s until 2003.
In an interview with The New York Times, Azodi said of Iran’s effort to rein in militias in Iraq and Syria:
“They are scared of direct confrontation with the U.S., they know that if Americans are killed again it would mean war. They had to put the brakes on the militia and convince them that a war with the U.S. could harm Tehran first and then by extension the entire axis.”
If you would like to speak with Sina Azodi, please contact GW Media Relations at [email protected].
-GW-
