The Multinational Requirement
If diplomacy alone delays and military force alone degrades without resolving the problem, then the question becomes what a sustainable strategy must include. The answer begins with a recognition that this is not a challenge any single nation can address in isolation.
Iran’s strategy has long operated across multiple domains—military, economic, political, and informational—and across multiple borders through proxies and regional influence. Addressing that strategy requires a response that is equally broad and sustained. A unilateral approach, no matter how capable, will struggle to maintain both the legitimacy and the endurance required over time.
A multinational framework is therefore not optional—it is essential. Regional partners, European allies, and other stakeholders must be involved at every level: politically, to reinforce legitimacy; economically, to sustain pressure; and militarily, to ensure freedom of navigation and deter further escalation. Shared participation distributes both the burden and the risk, while increasing the likelihood that any gains achieved can be maintained.
At the same time, any realistic strategy must account for the fact that allied interests do not always align. Political constraints, economic dependencies, and differing threat perceptions can limit participation or delay action. In such cases, progress may depend on a coalition of the willing rather than unanimous agreement, with sustained unilateral action sometimes necessary when allies are unwilling to participate. The absence of full alignment does not eliminate the need for coordinated action—it reinforces the importance of building flexible partnerships that can operate effectively even when consensus is incomplete.
Just as importantly, such a framework must be built with the understanding that this is not a short-term effort. If the current Iranian regime remains in power, the conditions that drive its behavior are unlikely to change quickly. Any effective strategy will therefore require sustained commitment—not measured in weeks or months, but in years. Without that commitment, even the most well-coordinated efforts will eventually erode.
Strategy cannot wait for perfect alignment—it must operate within the reality of competing interests.
The Endurance Reality
Even with a coordinated and multinational approach, there is a reality that must be acknowledged: this is not a problem that can be resolved in the short term.
The Iranian regime has demonstrated a consistent ability to absorb pressure, adapt to changing conditions, and pursue its strategic objectives over extended periods of time. This is evident in its continued ability to conduct and support operations across the region, even following significant leadership disruption and the degradation of key military capabilities. That endurance is not incidental—it is a defining characteristic. Any strategy built on the assumption of rapid change or immediate success is therefore likely to fall short.
This creates a fundamental challenge for policymakers. Democratic governments, by nature, operate within shorter political cycles, where public support, economic pressures, and shifting priorities can limit the willingness to sustain long-term efforts. The result is often a pattern of initial engagement followed by gradual disengagement, allowing the underlying problem to persist or reemerge.
An effective strategy must account for this imbalance. It must be designed not only to apply pressure, but to sustain it over time—across administrations, across shifting political environments, and across changing conditions on the ground. Without that continuity, even well-executed efforts risk becoming temporary interruptions rather than lasting solutions.
The Way Ahead
Taken together, these realities point toward a strategy that moves beyond false choices and instead integrates the necessary tools into a coherent and sustained approach.
First, military pressure must remain focused and targeted—designed to degrade the capabilities that enable regional coercion, including proxy networks, missile and drone systems, and maritime disruption capabilities, while avoiding the escalation risks associated with large-scale ground operations.
Second, economic and political pressure must be applied consistently and in coordination with partners, even when alignment is incomplete. Where allies are unwilling to participate, progress may depend on a coalition of the willing or, when necessary, sustained unilateral action to maintain pressure. The goal is not perfect consensus, but sufficient cooperation to maintain pressure over time.
Third, diplomacy must remain part of the strategy—but in a more limited and disciplined role. Rather than serving as the primary mechanism, it should function as a conditional off-ramp, tied to verifiable actions and sustained behavioral change.
Finally, all elements of this approach must be designed with endurance in mind. Without sustained commitment, even the most effective measures will lose impact, and the cycle will continue. This requires institutional continuity—through legislation, formal agreements, and enduring security frameworks—to ensure the strategy survives changes in political leadership.
This is not a simple strategy, nor is it a short-term one. But it reflects the reality of the challenge—and offers a path forward that avoids the false choice between ineffective diplomacy and unsustainable escalation.
The real danger is not choosing the wrong tool—it is choosing only one. The debate between diplomacy and force has on its own, already proven insufficient.
Strategic success does not come from choosing the most extreme option. It comes from applying the right combination of tools, sustained over time.
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