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Dennis Ross

Washington DC - “If we don’t ratchet up the pressure - and very soon,” said former Ambassador Dennis Ross on US policy towards Iran, “we are going to find we have very few choices.” Ross was the sole witness at the House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on Thursday entitled, “Beyond Iraq: Envisioning a US policy in the Middle East.”

Despite the potential posed in this title, the hearing provided little in the way of forward looking policy ideas for the US in the Middle East. Instead, the conversation focused on the "what ifs" on Iran's nuclear ambitions and the ways in which existing US policy towards Iran - economic sanctions, strong rhetoric, and limited or no diplomatic engagement - may be rendered more potent.

In their opening statements, Committee members acknowledged the increasing threat Syria and Iran posed to US interests in the region. "The Iranian threat grows incessantly," said Representative Gary Ackerman (D-NY), "the threat of war with Syria grows daily."

Representative Ilena Ros-Lehtinen observed that there was a "narrative of resistance" in the Middle East. Given this environment, the ranking minority member said, "the only answer is to meet these problems militarily." Now is not the time for diplomacy with Iran, the Congresswomen pressed. "Efforts to engage [Iran] seem to only lead it to accelerate its nuclear program."

Fellow Republican and ranking member of the Sub-Committee on the Middle East, Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN), disagreed with Ros-Lentinen. "Iran should be directly engaged on its nuclear program," said Pence. At the same time, Pence said he was "dubious" about pursuing a strategy of engagement when "the US strategy of international isolation has been working."

The Committee prodded Ambassador Ross on his opinion of the initiation of talks with Iran on Iraqi security in May. "I am not in favor of engaging Iran directly on a unilateral basis only on Iraq," said Ross. He criticized the Secretary of State's decision to openly invite Iran to participate in the talks at Sharm El Sheikh, May 28. "Saying she hoped the Iranians would come put them in a position of power," said Ross. "I am not a believer that you deal with countries on terms that they feel that they have all the leverage."

Representative Ted Poe (R-TX) questioned the efficacy of the current sanctions effort, as an alternative to diplomacy and military confrontation. The US and the United Nations have imposed sanctions on Iran for its nuclear program, said Poe, "and yet there are those that are falling over themselves to prop up Iran's oil. How are we dealing with our so-called allies that are still engaging in trade with Iran?" Poe asked the ambassador.

Congress is considering a host of bills that would sanction foreign companies that do business with the nation. This includes the Iran Sanctions Act of 2007 (HR 2347) which is poised to pass the House under suspension of rules. "This legislative package is just the beginning," said Lantos of the two bills he was co-sponsoring with Ros-Lehtinen. The two lawmakers are spearheading legislation that would increase sanctions on Iran and create an international fuel bank to "call Iran's bluff" on the purpose of its nuclear program. Iran has said that it is pursuing nuclear for civilian fuel purposes, so that it does not have to rely on other countries to fulfill its energy needs.

"The mullahs are going to feel the economic squeeze" of UN and US sanctions, Ross assured the Committee, but "the pace that we are applying the economic squeeze is too slow." Ross said that European cooperation was crucial to stepping up the sanctions effort. "Russians are not the key to the Iranian economic lifeline, it is the Europeans who are," said Ross, noting that Europe was providing $20 billion a year in investment guarantees to Iran. Ross said it was important to frame the issue in a way that would "effect European psychology" and compel Europe to sign-on to US sanctions policy. He said that the US should ask European countries to consider the consequences of continued investment in Iran.

"If Iran goes nuclear it would lead to a nuclear Middle East," said Ross. Saudi Arabia would work with Pakistan to obtain nuclear weapons, thus spelling the end of the Non-Proliferation Treaty. "Tell the EU, ‘the path you are on makes the use of force more likely rather than less likely,'" Ross explained, "and that the Israelis say that the only choice they have is the use of force.'"

The ambassador concluded his testimony by stating that Congress lacks a sense of urgency in respect to Iran. "If we don't use the means at our disposal today, we will be forced to use the military option tomorrow," Ross said.