Iran has been the world’s No. 1 state sponsor of terrorism for decades. If we want to have fewer wars and a more peaceful, less dangerous world, a defanged Iranian regime is in everyone’s interest. Building on Operation Midnight Hammer last summer, President Donald Trump is serving America and the world with his actions toward Iran in Operation Epic Fury, and he deserves our support in this endeavor.
Trump understands the art of the deal better than any modern head of state. Iran has prevented most shipping vessels from traveling through the Strait of Hormuz, precipitating a global energy crisis and proving its ambitions to undermine the economic security of all Western nations. In response, Trump has applied his resolute techniques to address the impact of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz while negotiating an end to the operation on terms that put America first.
Legacy news outlets unfairly and prematurely decried some of Trump’s public posturing. But our president was doing what any shrewd businessman would do to bring a deal together: Apply credible pressure. By issuing a dramatic threat to the Islamic Republic of Iran, Trump was displaying masterful deal-making skills. He understands that the way to win over a bully is not to give in, but to stand up to him. Now, after largely decimating Iran’s military capabilities, Trump has secured a two-week ceasefire that will allow oil tankers to once again pass through the Strait of Hormuz while he continues to negotiate to eliminate the threat Iran poses to the West.
Operation Epic Fury has been extremely successful in mitigating the threat Iran poses to the security of the U.S. and our allies. More than 13,000 targets have been struck, including Iranian ballistic missile sites, ballistic missile and drone manufacturing facilities, weapons production and storage bunkers, and surface-to-air missile facilities. Iran has lost many of its missile launchers, and missile attacks have fallen by 90%. Iran’s navy is largely decimated, with more than 155 vessels have been damaged or destroyed.
Operation Epic Fury is not a solution in search of a problem, or a benevolent undertaking for the sake of democracy-building around the world. Rather, this operation aims to ensure safety and stability for Americans and our allies by neutralizing one of the most significant threats to global security. The Islamic Republic of Iran supports proxy terrorist organizations such as Hezbollah, Al Qaeda, Hamas, and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, as well as the Houthis in Yemen, who have been active in attacking shipping vessels in the Red Sea. Iran provided material support for the 9/11 terrorist attacks on U.S. soil, backed and sometimes directly carried out attacks on American officials and troops over multiple decades, funded and trained the Hamas terrorists who murdered more than 1,200 innocent men, women, and children on October 7, 2023, including 46 Americans, and even financed drug trafficking activities in Central America. Iran has recently demonstrated that it can launch missiles at targets previously believed to be beyond its reach. And Iran has aligned with major foreign adversaries, including China. A more dangerous Iran would inevitably mean a more dangerous world.
WHERE DOES U.S.-IRAN CEASEFIRE LEAVE ISRAEL?
Trump’s actions in Operation Epic Fury demonstrate that he rightly understands the danger that Iran poses to the world and the damage this Islamic theocracy has already done, including to its own people. We cannot allow Iran to continue funneling money into terrorist organizations across the globe and holding the world hostage by halting the global oil supply.
America cannot surrender to the regime that chants, “death to America.” Through Operation Epic Fury, Trump is courageously demonstrating peace through strength on the world stage. I fully support his efforts in pressuring the Iranian regime into submission for the good of its people and the world. America and the free world should do the same.