Last week, a number of Latin American ambassadors attended a day-long seminar in Tehran on undermining America’s global influence. But now one of the Islamic Republic’s ruling factions seems to want to cancel next month’s fifth annual “End of America” conference. The rationale, writes Amir Taheri, is not that the end of America is no longer desired, but that avoiding provocation may help achieve it:

More than 30 years ago, Ayatollah Khomeini’s intransigence led to the destruction of Jimmy Carter’s presidency, depriving Iran of a friend in Washington. It would be foolish to repeat the same mistake by humiliating Barack Obama and through him the Democratic party, thus helping the return to power of the Republicans who are committed to making life difficult for the Khomeinist regime. . . .

Another four or perhaps even eight years of President Obama’s policies would nicely coincide with the duration of the Vienna nuclear deal, which envisages “a final closing of the dossier” by 2023 at the latest. Until then, Iran would be kept a year away from building a nuclear arsenal if it so decides. After that, Iran could do so within 60 days, if it so wished.

More importantly, another eight years of Obama’s strategy would make it immensely difficult, if not impossible in practical terms, for any future U.S. administration to revive the Pax Americana as a viable option. This strategy is aimed at shrinking the American military footprint across the world. . . .

Many might see the “End of America” world as a far more dangerous place. The mullahs, however, would regard it as the fulfillment of Khomeini’s dream.

For some time, opponents of U.S support for Israel have been urging the White House to end the war in Gaza, or simply calling for a ceasefire. Douglas Feith and Lewis Libby consider what such a result would actually entail:

Ending the war immediately would allow Hamas to survive and retain military and governing power. Leaving it in the area containing the Sinai-Gaza smuggling routes would ensure that Hamas can rearm. This is why Hamas leaders now plead for a ceasefire. A ceasefire will provide some relief for Gazans today, but a prolonged ceasefire will preserve Hamas’s bloody oppression of Gaza and make future wars with Israel inevitable.

For most Gazans, even when there is no hot war, Hamas’s dictatorship is a nightmarish tyranny. Hamas rule features the torture and murder of regime opponents, official corruption, extremist indoctrination of children, and misery for the population in general. Hamas diverts foreign aid and other resources from proper uses; instead of improving life for the mass of the people, it uses the funds to fight against Palestinians and Israelis.

Moreover, a Hamas-affiliated website warned Gazans last month against cooperating with Israel in securing and delivering the truckloads of aid flowing into the Strip. It promised to deal with those who do with “an iron fist.” In other words, if Hamas remains in power, it will begin torturing, imprisoning, or murdering those it deems collaborators the moment the war ends. Thereafter, Hamas will begin planning its next attack on Israel:

Hamas’s goals are to overshadow the Palestinian Authority, win control of the West Bank, and establish Hamas leadership over the Palestinian revolution. Hamas’s ultimate aim is to spark a regional war to obliterate Israel and, as Hamas leaders steadfastly maintain, fulfill a Quranic vision of killing all Jews.

Hamas planned for corpses of Palestinian babies and mothers to serve as the mainspring of its October 7 war plan. Hamas calculated it could survive a war against a superior Israeli force and energize enemies of Israel around the world. The key to both aims was arranging for grievous Palestinian civilian losses. . . . That element of Hamas’s war plan is working impressively.