Press Release

Contact: Sarah Stern

(202) 601-7422

[email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

February 18, 2025

President Trump Must Reconsider the Appointment of Elbridge Colby as Undersecretary of Defense for Policy

The Iranian Foreign Minister, Esmaeil Baghaei, announced on Monday, “When it comes to a country like Iran, [Israel and the US] cannot do a damn thing,” ([link removed])

This is in response to a joint press conference between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, where the Secretary of State said Iran was “behind every terrorist group” in the Middle East, and that a nuclear weapon “could never happen.” ([link removed])

For successive American administrations, we have heard the promise that Iran “must never get a nuclear weapon”. Yet, this past Friday, the International Atomic Energy Administration Chief, Rafeal Grossi stated, "Time is running out to secure a nuclear program to rein in Iran." ([link removed])

Iran now possesses enough highly enriched uranium for 5 nuclear bombs ([link removed]) . Iran has rapidly been accelerating its nuclear production. As Rafeal Grossi has put it, "It is a dramatic acceleration", and: "These actions by Iran are worrying."

While this rapid acceleration of the Iranian enrichment process and the near possibility that Iran will cross the nuclear threshold poses a real threat to the US and its allies in the region, the nominee for Undersecretary of Defense for Policy has recently stated ([link removed]) that "The Middle East, as a whole, is relatively unimportant; its proportion of global GDP is significantly less than 10 percent." On January 11, 2012, he co-authored an article with Austin Long for The National Interest, against attacking Iran's nuclear programs as it rapidly advances toward nuclear breakout. ([link removed])

There are instances when United States allies may need to depend on the U.S. for delivery mechanisms and more assertive support. Mr. Colby appears to advocate for refraining from providing any form of support to our allies in the Middle East and seems to hold the view that Israel and our Gulf allies can solely rely on Iranian nuclear containment.

Despite the Israeli attack on October 26, 2024, the Iranian regime's nuclear ambitions remain undeterred. The recent Israeli attack, while potentially crippling some facets of Iran's nuclear infrastructure, has not been enough to halt the regime's progress towards achieving nuclear capability. This ongoing threat underscores the necessity for a robust US stance on Iran—one that emphasizes both deterrence and support for regional allies.

Elbridge Colby's perceived indifference to the Middle East's strategic importance and his inclination to downplay the threat posed by Iran's nuclear program are deeply troubling. The US must adopt a firm and proactive policy to address the Iranian threat, rather than relying on containment strategies alone. It is imperative to support our allies in the region, including Israel and the Gulf states, to maintain stability and prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

Mr. Colby's stance, as demonstrated by his past comments and writings, suggests a reluctance to engage with the complexities of Middle Eastern geopolitics. This is a critical juncture, and the US cannot afford to have a key defense policy position held by someone who does not fully grasp the gravity of the situation. The appointment of an Undersecretary of Defense for Policy who prioritizes global security and recognizes the multifaceted threats posed by Iran is essential for the protection of US interests and the safety of its allies.

EMET is a think tank and foreign policy institute specializing in the Middle East.
Donate to EMET ([link removed])
Logo

Copyright © 2025 Endowment for Middle East Truth, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you opted in at our website or events.

Our mailing address is:
Endowment for Middle East Truth
P.O. Box 66366
Washington, DC 20035
USA
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can
update your preferences ([link removed]) or unsubscribe from this list ([link removed])
Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp
[link removed]