Kick-and-Rush or Tiki-Taka?
US foreign policy, national security strategy toward Iran
By Abed Akbari
International affairs analyst
Recent shifts in the US national security and foreign policy team under President Donald Trump have once again raised a key question among observers of US-Iran relations: Is Washington rethinking its strategic approach toward Tehran, or are we simply witnessing a reshuffle of players without any fundamental policy change?
Since Trump’s return to the White House in January 2025, US policy toward Iran has resembled the “kick-and-rush” style of football — quick, forceful plays without a structured buildup. Sanctions layering, inconsistent signaling, ad-hoc mediation through regional actors, and media-centric diplomacy all point to a confrontational yet disjointed strategy. It looks active on the surface but lacks strategic depth and long-term coherence.
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