Tonight, President Trump will address the nation. It would be wise to take this opportunity to explain to the American people how Iran threatens America’s interests and his plan to counter them. The president wanted this conflict behind him as the midterms approached, but following Iran’s violations of the Memorandum of Understanding, the U.S. has had to reinstate its blockade of Iranian vessels, reimpose sanctions, and resume its punishing bombing campaign. Leveling with the American people and establishing the facts now will ease concerns and inspire confidence that there remains an actionable path to success.
President Trump laid out the following objectives for Operation Epic Fury: “First, we’re destroying Iran’s missile capabilities. . . and their capacity to produce brand new ones. . . . Second, we’re annihilating their navy. . . Third, we’re ensuring that the world’s number one sponsor of terror can never obtain a nuclear weapon. . . And finally, we’re ensuring that the Iranian regime cannot continue to arm, fund, and direct terrorist armies outside of their borders.”
In Operation Epic Fury, the United States Armed Forces, with the Israel Defense Forces, achieved great success in a sophisticated operation with clearly defined military aims. The Israelis used their world-class intelligence services to locate and eliminate key military leadership, as well as scientists indispensable to Iran’s dangerous and still-active nuclear weapons program.
Now the battle of Hormuz is underway, and the United States is winning. It is a separate fight, and one of immense consequence. Iran has been able to sustain terrorist attacks—and that is what they are—against civilians in the strait. This is unacceptable for the United States and its allies. Only China backs Iran’s claim to managing the strait.
The United States has the requisite military forces and munitions on hand to carry out this operation, and the U.S. should not hold back. The types of munitions that will be required for this mission are not in short supply. The U.S. Navy is available to escort ships through the strait along the Omani corridor. On the diplomatic front, US focus should shift focus away from the Iranians and towards European allies. The French and the Brits have the capability and desire to help clear the center pathway in the strait of mines, and to assist the United States in its naval escort mission. The United States should push for this and welcome the cooperation enthusiastically. The Europeans desire Iranian acquiescence to their participation, but they won’t get it. The United States should look for ways to get the cooperation it needs anyway. This may require the United States to grant assurances that our Allies seek on other issues that have caused friction.
It’s important to remember that time is on our side. The Gulf States are already busy working to diminish the value of the Strait by expanding overland routes. The UAE’s new pipeline, which will begin operating by the end of 2027, will reduce the amount of oil that needs to cross Hormuz to about 10.5 million barrels per day. The UAE is also considering building another pipeline that would facilitate 9 million barrels a day. The Saudis are expanding their vast East-West pipeline and its two oil terminals along the Red Sea. The Strait is already far less valuable than it was a few months ago, and in a year, it will be even less, and in three, negligible.
Lastly, even as the U.S. and Israel have significantly degraded Iran’s nuclear program, there are still decisions to be made about the “nuclear dust.” President Trump can continue to expand strikes inside Iran to weaken it before directing a ground raid to dismantle and remove Iran’s centrifuges. A complex operation like this should be done alongside the Israelis, who know exactly what to do. Or, he can further entomb their nuclear facilities through bombing, rendering them effectively inaccessible. If he chooses the latter, Israel will likely need to continue periodic airstrikes when the Iranians resume nuclear weapons activity.
The president has a good report to provide to the American people. As we continue to celebrate 250 years of freedom, the Iranian people are closer now to achieving theirs than in decades. The United States with Israel has crushed the Iranian military, and, with its European allies, Washington has imposed crushing sanctions on Iran to deprive the regime of its lucrative oil business. Syria and Iraq have made significant progress in extricating themselves from Iran’s control and are moving closer to cooperation with the United States. Regimes can change, and the Iranian people can wrest their own future from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its clerics. With additional strikes to take out IRGC leadership and infrastructure, combined with an economy in shambles, the time will soon come for the people of Iran to rise up.
In the meantime, the United States has its work cut out to turn its military successes into lasting political victories. And with the right plan and execution, it is eminently possible.