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Transcript/Script((PLAYBOOK SLUG: E24 0916 Harris Trump Iran Policy TV
HEADLINE: On Iran, Harris emphasizes defensive approach; Trump highlights record of sanctions
TEASER: Threats by Iran and its proxies toward the U.S. and Israel are one of only a few foreign policy issues directly addressed by candidates Harris and Trump in campaigns
PUBLISHED: 9/15/2024 at
BYLINE: Michael Lipin
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Washington
SCRIPT EDITORS: Jepsen, DJones, Holly Franko, Baragona
TRT: 3:06
APPROVED BY: tt VIDEO EDITOR: Mary Cieslak, Robert Raffaele
VIDEO SOURCES: AP, Reuters, Hostage Families Forum, @GOPConvention (YouTube), Zoom,
PLATFORMS: WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO __
EDITOR NOTES: ))
((INTRO))
[[Iran’s threatening behavior toward the United States and its ally Israel is one of only a few foreign policy issues addressed by U.S. presidential rivals Kamala Harris and Donald Trump in the election campaign. Michael Lipin looks at the differing approaches of Harris and Trump in facing the threat from Iran and its proxies.]]
((NARRATOR))
((video: AP / Harris walks up to DNC stage ahead of acceptance speech))
Democratic presidential nominee and Vice President Kamala Harris has focused her relatively brief remarks about Iran on one concept: defense.
((Kamala Harris, Democratic Presidential Nominee))((English))
((video: AP / Harris convention acceptance speech, Aug. 22, 2024))
“And know this: I will never hesitate to take whatever action is necessary to defend our forces and our interests against Iran and Iran-backed terrorists.”
((NARRATOR))
((video: AP wideshot of Harris and Trump standing at debate podiums, then still of Harris pointing her finger))
In her debate with her Republican rival, former President Donald Trump, she pledged to extend that defensive approach to Israel, saying:
((Voice of Kamala Harris, Democratic Presidential Nominee))((English))
((video: animation of Harris quote from debate, over narration))
“I will always give Israel the ability to defend itself, in particular as it relates to Iran and any threat that Iran and its proxies pose to Israel."
((NARRATOR))
((video: Reuters / Iranian missiles/drones being intercepted over Israel, West Bank in April 2024))
The Biden-Harris administration helped Israel defend itself against an unprecedented aerial assault by Iran in April.
((video: AP / US aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln enters MidEast waters amid Israel-Iran tensions in August))
It also sent warships to the region last month to deter Iran from doing so again.
Emphasizing that approach could endear Harris to some Americans.
((for radio: Emphasizing that defensive approach could endear Harris to some Americans, says Michael O’Hanlon, foreign policy research director at the Brookings Institution.))
((Michael O’Hanlon, Brookings Institution))((English)) ((courtesy Zoom))
“I think that she knows Americans are tired of war and certainly doesn’t want to sound like she’s looking for another. And so, who can be against defense, right? But Americans are wary about offense. So, perhaps that can be part of it, especially given the history of the last quarter century.”
((NARRATOR))
((video: map of Iranian proxy attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq/Syria in August 2024))
But the Biden-Harris administration also saw Iran’s proxies escalate their aggression in August, striking U.S. bases in Iraq and Syria ...
((video: still photo of Hersh Goldberg-Polin))
((mandatory CG: AFP / Hostage Families Forum))
... and executing a U.S. hostage in Gaza.
((for radio: Victoria Coates, vice president for national security at the Heritage Foundation, says those incidents highlight a weakness in the U.S. strategy.))
((Victoria Coates, Heritage Foundation))((English)) ((courtesy Zoom))
“There has been zero retaliation from the United States. They've retained that defensive posture. My worry is that Iran is getting the message that that they can continue to provoke and to escalate on their terms, and all the United States will do is respond, not take the initiative.”
((NARRATOR))
((video: Trump walks up to RNC stage ahead of acceptance speech))
((mandatory CG: YouTube bug + @GOPConvention))
Trump is emphasizing his record of sanctioning Iran for its malign behavior when he was president.
((Donald Trump, Republican Presidential Nominee))((English))
((video: Trump convention acceptance speech, July 18, 2024))
((mandatory CG: YouTube bug + @GOPConvention))
“I told China and other countries, ‘If you buy from Iran, we will not let you do any business in this country, and we will put tariffs on every product you do send in of 100 percent or more.’”
((NARRATOR))
((video: AP still - Trump debate photo 1 - pointing at Harris))
In the debate, he accused the Biden-Harris administration of enriching Iran and its proxies by easing that pressure.
((video: AP still - Trump debate photo 2))
He also promised to resolve the Iran threat but did not elaborate, saying:
((Donald Trump, Republican Presidential Nominee))((English))
((video: animation of Trump quote from debate, over narration))
“Look at what’s going on in the Middle East ... I will get that settled and fast.”
((NARRATOR))
((video: AP / Trump signing executive order withdrawing from JCPOA in 2018))
[[date: May 8, 2018]]
During his term, Trump engaged in a two-year-long “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran.
((NARRATOR))
((video: AP / Trump speaking at campaign event in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA on Sept. 13, 2024))
Trump’s avoidance of recommitting to that strategy gives him the option of pursuing a new policy that pressures Iran more quickly.
((NARRATOR))
((video: Reuters / Iranian nuclear facility b-roll))
One similarity between Harris and Trump is that neither of them says what they will do if Iran makes a nuclear bomb, a prospect that Iranian officials have hinted at.
((Michael Lipin, VOA News, Washington))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
Subtitles / Dubbing AvailableNo
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateSeptember 15, 2024 15:15 EDT
BylineMichael Lipin
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English, US Agency for Global Media
