Rhetoric vs. reality: Obama's hard-nosed approach to Iran is having its effects despite GOP claims that he is soft on that country

With the help of our allies (called multilateralism), Obama walks softly and carries big sticks (and often drones). Short of attacking Iran now, this is the most aggressive policy our country can pursue:

Iran is weak and getting weaker. Sanctions have pushed its economy into a nose-dive. The political system is fractured and fragmenting. Abroad, its closest ally and the regime of which it is almost the sole supporter — Syria — is itself crumbling. The Persian Gulf monarchies have banded together against Iran and shored up their relations with Washington. Last week, Saudi Arabia closed its largest-ever purchase of U.S. weaponry. Meanwhile, Europe is close to approving even more intense sanctions against Tehran. The simplest measure of Iran’s strength is its currency. When Barack Obama became president, you could buy 9,700 rials with one dollar. Since then, the dollar has appreciated 60 percent against the rial, meaning you can buy 15,600 rials ... The price of food staples has soared 40 percent the past few months, Reuters reported this week.

--Fareed Zakaria