Trump Seeks to Roll Back Iran’s Regional Influence
2025-03-2187 view
From Sanaa to Baghdad, the Trump administration is working to curb Iran’s clout beyond its borders, deploying security, military, and diplomatic resources in efforts to strip Iraqi and Yemeni militants away from Tehran.
The U.S. military’s air and missile attacks against Houthi positions in mid-March marked a significant shift, given their scope; they extended to eight governorates of Yemen and targeted residential areas housing influential Houthi leaders, as well as camps and key sites belonging to the group’s governing apparatus.
Yemenis are now discussing the possibility of a military operation, potentially backed by the U.S. and regional powers, along the western coast and towards Sanaa. Since February, the Houthis have intensified their military preparations, increased training and recruitment, and built up their fortifications against such a scenario.
Washington has also ratcheted up the pressure on Iraqi factions allied with Iran, and ended the sanctions exemption that had allowed electricity-starved Iraq to import Iranian gas. Notably, it took this step despite knowing Iraq has no viable alternative gas supplier.
The Trump administration is also demanding the dissolution of Iraqi factions that enjoy Iranian support and operate outside official institutions; or at the very least, their integration into the security or military establishments. The goal of these efforts is to drive a wedge between these factions and Iran, and to deprive Iran of an important source of foreign currency.
Despite saying it is prepared to return to negotiations with Tehran over the latter’s nuclear program, Washington appears unwilling to do so until it has beaten back Iran’s already much-depleted influence across the region. The situation is therefore likely to escalate further in the coming months, especially in Iraq and Yemen. Indeed, Tehran itself cannot rule out the possibility of airstrikes against its nuclear facilities.
