Sputnik News- US President Donald Trump�s reported decision to engage a more hardline stance towards Iran may include more provocative actions against Tehran and is likely to be ultimately aimed at reducing Iranian regional and global influence, according to Anthony Cartalucci, a geopolitical researcher and author.




Earlier, Reuters�reported�citing US officials that the proposal is intended to�increase the pressure on�Tehran to�curb its missile programs and support for�militants. The plan also reportedly targets cyber espionage and potentially nuclear proliferation. The White House is also discussing a new stance on�the 2015 final deal on�Tehran�s nuclear program, including tougher economic sanctions if Iran violates the deal, according to�the report.

Commenting on�the possible steps Washington could take under�the new plan, Cartalucci suggested that they may include "pouring immense resources into�proxy militant groups" and a "more open escalation of�already ongoing operations."
"The final card the US appears to�be holding is the sponsorship and backing of�Kurdish groups in�Syria and Iraq, however, Syria and Iran also have ties with�Kurdish groups, and in�many places Washington seeks to�fight Iran by�proxy lacking any meaningful presence of�Kurdish groups," he told Sputnik.


The report comes amid�growing concerns that President Trump will pull out�from the�Iran nuclear deal, which has been criticized since�his presidential campaign. Commenting on�the issue, Cartalucci warned that Washington�s withdrawal from�the agreement is only a matter of�time.

"The US always intended to�withdraw from�the deal and that the deal was always just another attempt to�maneuver the United States into�a direct conflict with�Iran. It's not a matter of�if the US will withdraw. It is a matter of�when," he argued.

The expert elaborated that the main reason behind�the�US seeking an escalation with�Iran�is Washington�s geopolitical ambitions, and Iran stands in�the way of�a "unipolar world order."
"Iran represents one of�many emerging nations pursuing an alternate international order predicated on�national sovereignty and multipolar international relations. Escalating tensions with�Tehran allows the US to�provoke an incident in�which it can justify the amount of�force required to�topple or egregiously setback Iranian power in�the region and on�the world stage," he pointed out.


Finally, according to�Cartalucci, such a policy is aimed at�the global political isolation of�other powers, namely Russia and China.