As I complete my 10th visit to Israel in the last two and a half years, meeting with senior officials across defense, the IDF, intelligence, and security, I have had the opportunity to reflect on America’s national security interests in the region.
Whatever one believes about the origins of the current conflict, the United States now faces a critical inflection point. We can seize a historic opportunity to advance our interests and help stabilize the region, or we can leave it more volatile than we found it.
The latter would echo the consequences of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, which signaled to allies worldwide that American commitments can waver, a perception that reached as far as Taipei and Beijing.
With public support uncertain and a looming deadline under the War Powers framework requiring additional congressional authorization, President Trump should address the American people directly.
Clear speech needed to justify war with Iran
This moment calls for a clear, sober speech grounded in strategy, explaining to independents why the United States is confronting the regime in Iran and why it serves our interests.
Here is the speech the president should give.
“My fellow Americans,
“Many of you are asking why the United States is confronting the Islamic Republic of Iran. The truth is that this conflict did not begin recently.
“For decades, Iran’s radical leadership has pursued policies directly hostile to the United States: advancing a clandestine nuclear program, supporting terrorism that has taken many American lives, and backing proxy forces such as Hezbollah that destabilize regions far beyond the Middle East, including being directly involved in the drug trade within our own hemisphere.
“During the Iraq War, Iranian-supplied weapons contributed to the deaths and injuries of thousands of American service members.
“Some argue this is a war of choice without an imminent threat. That may be politically compelling, but it ignores strategic reality. A nuclear-armed Iran would fundamentally alter the global balance of power.
“It would embolden aggression against US interests and allies and trigger a nuclear arms race across the Middle East, increasing the risk that nuclear weapons could fall into the hands of non-state Islamist actors.
“For too long, American policy toward Iran has been inconsistent, oscillating between inaction and appeasement.
“The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action sought to constrain Iran’s nuclear ambitions but ultimately would allow the regime the foundations of an industrial-scale nuclear program.
“Meanwhile, the regime has remained committed to expanding its influence, expanding its ideology, dominating its neighbors, and undermining the United States and its partners.
“It is critical to distinguish between the Iranian regime and the Iranian people. The Iranian people have repeatedly demonstrated their desire for greater freedom and accountability.
“They represent a potential partner in shaping a more stable region if given the opportunity. Estimates suggest that a large majority seek freedom from repression and violence.
“We have asked them to rise up, but after severe crackdowns on unarmed protesters with over 40,000 killed in just a few day’s time, we cannot expect millions to take to the streets without the means to protect themselves.
“It is in America’s interest to help coordinate the diverse Iranian minorities and the broader Persian population seeking to change their government.
“I have a strategy, built on pressure, patience, and clarity.
“Pressure means enforcing secondary sanctions on nations that trade with Iran and restricting the regime’s ability to fund aggression, including reducing its leverage over critical chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz.
“Limited kinetic actions may be necessary when red lines affecting our national security are crossed. However, major military operations can be avoided if we effectively employ the strategic weapon of patience.
“Patience means recognizing this will not be resolved quickly. Iran’s leadership is betting on American fatigue. We cannot prove them right. Sustained sanctions and economic pressure will take time to have their full effect.
“We must also work with allies to ensure the free flow of commerce by investing in alternative infrastructure that reduces vulnerability to future disruptions through the straits.
“Though not short-term solutions, overland pipelines and rail links from India, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia toward the Red Sea, Israel, and the Mediterranean are essential to long-term stability.
“Clarity means understanding the stakes. A nuclear Iran would reshape the global balance, not only in the Middle East, but wherever adversaries are watching for signs of American weakness. Our resolve now can help prevent broader conflicts in the future, including in the Far East.
“This approach carries costs. Energy prices may rise, and tensions may persist. But the alternative, a nuclear-armed Iran with expanding reach and overwhelming missile capabilities, would be far more dangerous and far more costly to confront later.
“As president, my responsibility is not to choose the easiest path, but the right one for our long-term security.
“We will apply sustained economic pressure, work with allies to keep global trade routes open, and do so without committing American troops to another prolonged ground war.
“I ask for your patience and your resolve to keep America strong, exceptional, and secure.”
The writer is director of the Middle East Political Information Network (MEPIN) and senior security editor of The Jerusalem Report. He frequently briefs Congress, think tanks, and the State Department on Middle East affairs and their impact on US national security.