Trump’s Iran strategy needs to go beyond the deal table - opinion

US President Donald Trump has long been known for taking bold steps in foreign policy. In 2018, he made headlines by withdrawing the United States from the disastrous Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal.

Calling it one of the worst agreements in American history, Trump criticized how it handed Iran billions of dollars and allowed the regime to continue its dangerous behavior with little accountability. His decision set the tone for a stronger, more results-focused approach to Tehran. But now, with renewed talk of a possible nuclear deal, the world is watching to see if the second Trump administration holds the line or gives in to dangerous compromise.

There’s no doubt that diplomacy matters. No serious policymaker wants war. But diplomacy should not mean rewarding lies, delays, and terrorism. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what the Islamic Republic has brought to the table in past negotiations.

Ramesh Sepehrrad, a leading Iranian-American scholar and board member of the Organization of Iranian-American Communities, put it plainly: “This regime doesn’t want a deal; it wants a bomb.” Talks, she added, are simply a stalling tactic designed to buy time while continuing uranium enrichment behind closed doors.

This pattern isn’t new. Iran has repeatedly used diplomacy as a shield while secretly advancing its nuclear capabilities, building facilities deep underground, and pushing enrichment far beyond civilian levels. That’s why any new agreement with Iran must be nothing like the 2015 deal.

Mazi Melesa Pilip, a Republican leader and former IDF soldier, summed it up clearly: “Everybody knows the fact that Iran supports terrorist organizations like Hamas and others. It’s not a secret.”

From Iraq to Lebanon, from Gaza to Yemen, Tehran fuels war through its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its many proxies. After the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, intelligence reports and expert testimony pointed directly to the Islamic Republic’s influence behind the chaos.

“Iran has been a primary force behind the funding and escalation of many of the conflicts destabilizing the Middle East,” Pilip noted.

Tehran frequently claims that its nuclear program is intended solely for peaceful purposes, such as generating electricity and meeting domestic energy demands. This justification is meant to deflect international scrutiny and sanctions – despite Iran’s vast natural reserves of oil and gas.

Scott M. Feltman, executive vice president of the One Israel Fund, underscored this point: “Iran is the second-richest country in oil and gas. They don’t need nuclear energy. They want nuclear weapons. They want to destroy Israel, and once they’re done with that, they want to destroy the United States.”

That reality should shape every decision President Trump makes. Yes, he has shown caution when it comes to entering military conflicts; his record reflects that. But as Feltman warns, the real danger is not open war. It’s allowing Iran to build weapons in secret while the West wastes time at the negotiating table.

The US must set clear demands

Trump’s administration has already reimposed tough sanctions targeting Iranian oil exports, IRGC-affiliated businesses, and banks doing business with the regime. These efforts have worked. The Islamic Republic’s economy is struggling, and internal pressure is rising. But sanctions alone won’t bring lasting change unless they’re tied to a broader strategy – one that targets the heart of the problem: the regime itself.

Iran’s internal resistance is growing. Protests continue in major cities like Tehran and Isfahan despite brutal crackdowns. Dissidents are risking their lives to demand freedom. Washington must help them, not just by speaking out but by providing tools: encrypted communication platforms, access to uncensored media, and visible political backing.

The goal is not regime change by force. The goal is to weaken the regime’s grip by empowering the people who want something better.

In 2009, during the Green Movement, millions of Iranians flooded the streets demanding reform. It was a historic opportunity, but the Obama administration remained silent, unwilling to jeopardize its nuclear talks.“We missed the moment,” Feltman recalled. “During the Green Revolution, Obama sided with the regime. That was our chance.”

Trump must not repeat that mistake. While his diplomacy-first mindset is understandable, it must not come at the cost of empowering the very regime that threatens US allies, funds terrorism, and represses its own citizens.There’s also the matter of accountability. “If Iran wants peace, they have to take that destruction-of-Israel agenda off the table,” Pilip said. That demand should not be controversial; it should be the starting point.

Any deal must require Tehran to abandon its genocidal ideology, not merely delay its weapons program. As Pilip warns, “If Hamas is gone, Iran will just create or support another proxy. That’s their model; they don’t stop.”This moment isn’t just about nuclear weapons. It’s about the future of the Middle East, the credibility of US foreign policy, and the strength of American leadership.

Trump has shown that he understands the dangers of weak diplomacy. Now he must go further by rejecting any deal that merely postpones the threat, instead building a strategy that holds the Iranian regime accountable, supports the Iranian people, and makes clear that the United States will never trade principles for promises.

President Trump’s instincts on Iran have been right. But instincts alone are not enough. Now is the time to go beyond deals and lead with strength, vision, and a commitment to freedom. That is the kind of legacy that lasts.

The writer is the youngest nationally syndicated columnist in the United States. He is a columnist for both Townhall Media and Newsmax, where his bold commentary has earned national recognition. His writing regularly appears in major publications, including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Post, and several prominent Jewish outlets.