Biden's Iran policy faces mounting criticism amid calls for him to drop out

Amid calls for President Joe Biden to drop out of the presidential race, criticism of his Iran policy has erupted beyond the Republican National Convention, fueled by major flashpoints such as Houthi aggression and Iran's nuclear program.

At 81, President Biden is under mounting pressure from his own party to step aside following a poor debate against Republican nominee Donald Trump, which sparked concerns about his age and viability ahead of the November election.

In response, Biden has defiantly countered these calls, insisting he remains the preferred candidate among Democratic voters. As recently as Wednesday, he affirmed his commitment to the 2024 race, stating, "I am all in."

Joe Biden’s approach, often labeled as lenient by critics, has been under fire for some time, but now, with elections looming, the criticism has reached a fever pitch.

Recent developments have brought the issue to the forefront, making it more relevant than ever for US politicians and Iranians as well.

Early Friday morning, an Iranian-made drone launched by Yemen’s Houthi rebels detonated in Tel Aviv, claiming the life of one person near a US embassy branch. The incident, the first Israeli casualty amidst a spate of Houthi drone attacks on Israel in recent months, has US lawmakers clamoring for the State Department to reclassify the Iran-backed militant group as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). This label would pave the way for more robust US sanctions and targeting.

Ritchie Torres (D-NY) took to X to voice his critique, stating: “The message of the Houthis, an Iranian proxy armed with Iranian drones, couldn’t be clearer: ‘Death to America. Death to Israel. Curse upon the Jews.’ The time has come for the US State Department to designate the Houthis as a ‘Foreign Terrorist Organization.’”

Congressman Mike Lawler (R-NY) expressed his dismay on X: “This latest Iran-backed Houthi drone attack against civilians in Tel Aviv is shocking. Iran and the Houthis must be held accountable.”

The sentiment was also echoed by Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Iowa), who strongly condemned the attack on Israel by the Houthis, describing them as terrorists funded by Iran with no regard for human life.

President Trump had placed the Houthis on the FTO list. Still, President Biden quickly reversed this decision, arguing that branding the Houthis as terrorists would throw a wrench in the delivery of crucial humanitarian aid to Yemenis in desperate need.

Another development fanning the flames of criticism on Friday came straight from the Biden administration's admissions. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken issued a stark warning, stating that Iran could produce material for a nuclear bomb in a mere week or two if it chose to do so. This statement only intensified the scrutiny of Biden's Iran policy.

Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) attributed this escalation to what she described as President Joe Biden’s “failed leadership,” arguing that it has encouraged US enemies. "We must return to President Trump’s peace through strength strategy," she asserted, advocating for a more assertive approach.

Senator Ted Budd (R-NC) criticized the Biden-Harris administration's approach, attributing Iran's proximity to obtaining nuclear weapon material—just one to two weeks away—to what he described as their "weakness and appeasement." Budd emphasized the need to "return to a policy of maximum pressure" to address the escalating threat.

Another wave of criticism erupted last week during the Republican National Convention from July 15-18, where prominent speakers lambasted President Joe Biden’s Middle East policies. Accusations of appeasement and "putting America last" echoed through the convention hall as Republican members of Congress, along with several former officials and diplomats, took aim at the Biden's Iran policy. They argued that the Democrats’ policies since 2021 have not only made the US unsafe but also weakened its standing on the global stage.

Additionally, the US presidential candidates' tone during the campaign plays a pivotal role in shaping this narrative.

During the final leg of his presidential campaign in 2020, Joe Biden pledged to revive the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Critics argue that this stance emboldened Iran, prompting it to adopt a stricter negotiating position and accelerate its uranium enrichment, believing it had gained a strategic advantage. Consequently, negotiations stalled as Iran's expectations soared, leading to an impasse in diplomatic efforts.

This is something the Biden administration has acknowledged. In a 2022 interview with Foreign Policy, former US Special Envoy for Iran Robert Malley admitted that the US and Iran came very close to reviving the 2015 nuclear deal multiple times. However, Iran stepped back each time, introducing new demands often unrelated to the nuclear negotiations, leading to repeated setbacks in reaching a final agreement.

The Biden administration released $16 billion in frozen funds to Iran for reported humanitarian purposes such as food and medicine. Critics, however, argue that this move indirectly bolsters Iran's military and proxy activities by freeing up other resources.

Critics contend that the administration’s lax enforcement of sanctions has allowed Iran's oil sales to skyrocket. Since Biden took office, Iran's oil exports have surged from around 300,000 barrels to 1.5 million barrels per day, primarily driven by increased sales to China. This surge has generated approximately $80 billion for Iran, providing significant financial resources to support its military and proxy groups across the Middle East, including Hamas and Hezbollah.