According to Dr Steven Cook, a senior fellow for Middle Eastern Studies at the Council of Foreign Relations, the West has "moved progressively away from a policy of engagement on Iran, concluding that a more punitive policy may have a better chance of changing Iran's course".
Prema rečima dr Stivena Kuka, višeg saradnika za Bliskoistočne studije u Savetu za spoljne odnose, Zapad je „progresivno odustao od vođenja proaktivne politike prema Iranu i zaključio da bi na promenu iranske politike bolje mogla da utiče politika kažnjavanja“.