Staff Reports
The latest developments make one thing painfully clear: Tehran keeps making the same choices that wreck any chance for a lasting peace. The U.S. carried out self-defense strikes inside southern Iran this week after Iranian forces continued to threaten shipping and regional stability, demonstrating that words alone won’t stop aggression.
President Trump has been hustling to lock down a ceasefire and broaden the Abraham Accords into a real, enforceable peace, telling allies that negotiations were moving forward even as setbacks emerged. That pragmatic approach—using diplomacy backed by real leverage—should be applauded, not pilloried by the usual chorus of naysayers who prefer endless conflict.
Yet Tehran’s provocations and the continued strikes across the region have repeatedly undermined any fragile progress, proving that Iran will test strength until it meets force. Reports make clear negotiators are wrestling with “no dust, no dollars” red lines and the hard reality that Tehran must make verifiable concessions before relief is delivered. The lesson is simple: trust but verify, and don’t reward bad behavior.
There’s also a dangerous narrative trying to pin the collapse of diplomacy on Israel, suggesting Israeli actions somehow “blew up” the deal. That’s a convenient misdirection; Israel defends its citizens against Iranian proxies and terror networks while the world pretends authoritarian actors will act like reasonable partners if given a seat at the table. Policymakers must call out Iran’s pattern of duplicity instead of scapegoating Israel for defending itself.
From a conservative standpoint, the strategy should be clear: back strong leadership that pairs bold diplomacy with credible deterrence. Expanding normal relations in the region through diplomacy—while insisting on ironclad verification and the reopening of critical waterways—advances American interests more than perpetual war. The president’s push to widen peace agreements, if done properly, can deliver security and economic relief without capitulation.
But make no mistake: this is a precarious moment that demands resolve, not reflexive retreat or smug moralizing from the sidelines. Lawmakers who posture about peace but refuse to demand serious Iranian concessions are failing the country; at the same time, Washington must coordinate closely with Israel so that tactical operations don’t accidentally unravel a strategic settlement. The path to stability runs through firmness and smart diplomacy, not through appeasement.
