Hillary Clinton on Iran
Hillary Clinton's position on Iran centers on a tough, realistic engagement strategy, particularly concerning the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA).
She strongly defended the JCPOA as an important diplomatic achievement that marked a step forward in preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, citing actions Iran took like dismantling centrifuges and shipping out enriched uranium.
However, she firmly maintained that this diplomacy should not imply a broader opening to the regime, adhering to a policy of "distrust and verify" and stressing the need to confront Iran's aggression and its proxies across the Middle East.
Clinton's approach also included vigorous enforcement of the deal and a commitment to confront Iran's negative actions in the region, including its ballistic missile program which she believed should be met with new sanctions.
Her strategy also involved bolstering security cooperation with Gulf allies and taking a hard line against Iranian-backed groups like Hezbollah and Hamas through sanctions and restricting arms shipments.
As Secretary of State, she played a role in getting the nuclear deal process started, but as a presidential candidate, she framed her approach as a more hawkish component of a larger containment strategy against the regime.
Context
Hillary Clinton's position is significant because she helped lay the groundwork for the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) as Secretary of State under President Obama. Her later articulation of the policy during her 2016 presidential campaign sought to balance the success of the diplomacy with a perceived need for a tougher stance on Iran's overall behavior.
Her views matter in the context of U.S. foreign policy as they represent a significant diplomatic pathway regarding one of the most contentious international issues, positioning her as a proponent of negotiated constraints while maintaining a readiness to use force and sanctions.
Timeline
- Hillary Clinton stated she would be prepared to "totally obliterate" Iran if it launched a nuclear strike against Israel within the next decade, though she also favored fresh negotiations.
- As a presidential candidate, she defended the JCPOA as a diplomatic achievement but framed it within a more hawkish context, emphasizing confrontation of regional aggression and setting the condition: "distrust and verify."
- Welcomed the safe return of American prisoners from Iran and the full implementation of the nuclear agreement, while calling for new sanctions over Iran's ballistic missile program.
Actions Taken
- Diplomacy/NegotiationPlayed a role in getting the process started that led to the Iran nuclear agreement.
- Official StatementReleased a statement welcoming the implementation of the nuclear deal and the return of American prisoners, while calling for new sanctions related to the ballistic missile program.
Key Quotes
"I will vigorously enforce the nuclear deal as part of a comprehensive strategy that confronts all of Iran's negative actions in the region and stand side-by-side with our ally Israel and our Arab partners."
"My approach will be distrust and verify."
"The United States will never allow you to acquire a nuclear weapon."
"I am deeply concerned about Iranian aggression and the need to confront it... It's a ruthless, brutal regime that has the blood of Americans and many others, including its own people, on its hands."
"I want the Iranians to know that if I'm the president, we will attack Iran" if it attacks Israel.
Sources5
Hillary Clinton Statement on Iran | The American Presidency Project
* This is not an exhaustive list of sources.