The Islamic Republic Cannot Be “Defanged”
The debate over how to “defang” the Islamic Republic of Iran presupposes that the regime’s conduct can be separated from its character. Pierre Rehov contends that the regime’s very nature precludes any effort to compel it toward a more moderate course.
For decades, Western policymakers have returned, almost reflexively, to a familiar question: Can the Islamic Republic of Iran be contained, deterred, or gradually moderated? The latest iteration of this debate—whether to “defang” Iran’s military capabilities or to contemplate outright regime change—suggests a choice. In reality, it reflects a fundamental misunderstanding. The distinction assumes that the regime’s behavior can be separated from its nature. Yet the Islamic Republic is not a conventional state whose excesses can be disciplined through calibrated pressure. It is an ideological system, born out of revolution in 1979, whose legitimacy has long depended on resistance—externally against perceived enemies, and internally against dissent. Its foreign policy is not simply strategic; it is doctrinal.
The concept of “defanging” Iran typically focuses on limiting its missile arsenal, constraining its nuclear ambitions, and disrupting its network of regional proxies. These objectives are tactically sound and, in some cases, necessary. But they risk addressing symptoms rather than structure. Iran’s military posture is not an instrument of statecraft but is core to the regime’s identity. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its affiliates do not merely project power but they embody the revolutionary logic that sustains the system itself. That alone goes a long way toward explaining why decades of pressure have produced, at best, partial and temporary results. Sanctions have imposed real costs but have not altered the regime’s trajectory. Diplomatic agreements have delayed escalation but have not transformed underlying intentions. Targeted military actions have disrupted operations without dismantling the broader architecture.
Like other ideologically driven regimes in history, the Islamic Republic has demonstrated a capacity to absorb pressure while preserving its core.
Timeless reading in a fleeting world.
