The United States has weakened itself with Iraq; Iranians feel victorious - they feel capable of filling the void. I think from the very outset the nuclear issue has been secondary to the more strategic outlook, in which the United States has, since 1991, pursued a policy that it cannot permit any country in the region to become too powerful and challenge American hegemony.
![The United States has weakened itself with Iraq; Iranians feel victorious - they feel capable of filling the void. I think from the very outset the nuclear issue has been secondary to the more strategic outlook, in](http://cdn.myquotes.org/images/trita-parsi/the-united-states-has-weakened-itself-with-iraq-iranians-feel-victorious---they-feel-capable-of-filling-the-void.jpg)