EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The destabilizing actions of the Islamic Republic of Iran and its armed proxy groups, known as the Axis of Resistance, threaten vital US interests in the Middle East and beyond, ranging from the security and stability of US allies to the free flow of energy and maritime commerce—and deterring Iran from becoming a nuclear-weapons state requires urgent attention. How the United States should approach Iran will remain one of Washington’s primary foreign policy challenges for years to come. This report aims to provide a comprehensive strategic plan that can guide US executive branch leadership, members of Congress, the military, diplomats, and others who have roles in shaping US foreign policy toward Iran for the next four years, with an eye toward the next two decades.