BBC World News Interviews Ambassador Barbara Leaf on Potential U.S. Strike Against Iran

Arnold & Porter Senior International Policy Advisor and former U.S. Ambassador Barbara Leaf was interviewed by BBC World News to discuss the Trump administration’s military buildup in the Middle East and the possibility of a U.S. strike against Iran.

Ambassador Leaf described the situation as “exceptionally dynamic,” noting that significant uncertainties remain, including “whether Trump is going to let diplomacy play out any further.” She observed that while the contours of a potential agreement are unclear, any deal would ostensibly focus on Iran’s nuclear program, even as broader U.S. concerns persist regarding ballistic missiles and Iran’s regional proxy activities.

Addressing the scope of possible military action, Ambassador Leaf said it is difficult to assess whether President Trump is contemplating a limited strike or “a decapitation strike” targeting Iran’s leadership, citing “contradictory messaging from the administration.”

She cautioned that the substantial deployment of U.S. military assets to the region may heighten the risk of escalation, warning that “having marshalled so much military kit into the region, [the President] has essentially forced himself to use it.”