Iran Overplayed Its Hand. Now Trump Must Finish The Job

By blatantly violating the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which was supposed to allow unmolested shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s radical rulers have done the U.S. and the Free World an immense favor.

Last April, President Trump prematurely halted the all-out air attacks by the U.S. and Israel against Iran’s tyrannical regime that for nearly half a century has been stoking terrorism worldwide. Iran and its proxies have killed 2,000 Americans and millions of others. It has openly vowed death to the U.S. and Israel. Getting nuclear weapons was seen as a means to realizing this ghastly ambition. Agreements with Iran have never been worth the paper they’re written on.

Yet the President and some of his officials thought they could cut a deal with these vipers. Indeed, the President gave the impression he wanted a face-saving way to wash his hands of the war with Iran. Why else would he call off attacks when we hadn’t completed hitting the list of intended targets?

Despite the immense battering from the U.S. and Israel, the mullahs—and most of the world—concluded that Iran had won a strategic victory. The regime had not only survived but also gained de facto control of the crucial Strait of Hormuz.

Thankfully, Iran has overplayed its hand. Along with its proxies, Iran has blatantly violated the ceasefire since it began in April. It has turned the MoU into a farce by attacking shipping and firing on U.S. forces and allies. Every attempt at U.S. diplomacy is regarded by Tehran as a sign of weakness.

The President pronounced that the U.S. will be the guardian of the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. Navy has the capability to carry out this mission. A heartening sign of America’s military abilities is our first-time—and highly successful—use of drone ships against Iranian naval assets.

If the President stays the course and doesn’t suddenly change direction again, the Iranian regime will eventually buckle. The fall of this force of evil would be a huge victory for the Free World.

Ideally, the U.S. would also reassure nervous allies of its reliability and constancy by upping help for Ukraine to defend against Russian missiles and by President Trump’s approving the $14 billion arms package to Taiwan that Congress passed earlier this year.