Hi,
In recent weeks, no foreign policy issue has come up more often in my conversations than Iran. For years, the world’s silence in the face of Tehran’s abuses has only fueled the regime’s brutality, strengthened its grip on power, and emboldened its global aggression. But now, that silence is finally breaking—and the world may be waking up to the true scale of the threat.
As the youngest nationally syndicated columnist in the country, I’ve had the chance to speak with those who’ve witnessed the regime’s tactics firsthand—foreign policy leaders, former Israeli Defense Forces soldiers, dissidents who fled persecution, and experts from organizations like the Organization of Iranian-American Communities and the National Council of Resistance of Iran. Their message is consistent and direct: the Islamic Republic is not a misunderstood partner. It is a threat engineered at every level.
Dr. Ramesh Sepehrrad, a scholar and board member of OIAC, said something that still rings in my mind: “The regime doesn’t want a deal. It wants a bomb.” That one sentence cuts through years of diplomatic illusion.
We have seen this pattern before: Officials in Tehran announce openness to negotiations, accept inspections, and posture as peace-seekers. But behind closed doors, they expand uranium enrichment to levels just below weapons-grade. Inspectors discover secret underground nuclear facilities. In the background, the West debates timelines and sanctions while the regime accelerates its ambitions.
This is not a new script. But repeating it would be a dangerous mistake.
No serious voice is calling for war as the first option. Diplomacy is essential. But diplomacy without strength is not diplomacy—it’s delay dressed up as strategy. A regime that funds terrorist organizations in Lebanon, Gaza, and Yemen cannot be trusted to keep its promises.
When I spoke with Mazi Melesa Pilip, a Republican leader and former IDF soldier, her response was refreshingly clear: “Everyone knows Iran supports terrorist organizations. It’s not a secret.”
Conversations about geopolitics often overlook the most vital force for change—Iran’s own people. Inside the country, despite mass arrests, torture, and public executions, protests continue to surge. Teachers, laborers, students, and artists rise up in defiance, demanding dignity and liberty. The cost is unbearable for many, but the momentum remains.
Dr. Majid Sadeghpour, political director of OIAC, shared the story of his brother, executed for daring to oppose the regime. Other family members endured prison and torture. He is not seeking retribution. He is asking for recognition—political recognition that separates the people from the oppressors and makes clear where the free world stands.
During the 2009 Green Revolution, the United States faced a moral test. Millions of Iranians flooded the streets demanding freedom. President Obama chose to remain silent, prioritizing nuclear negotiations over the cries of a nation. That silence helped the regime survive a moment of fragility. The consequences endure.
President Trump took a different approach. By withdrawing from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, he disrupted a deeply flawed framework. Sanctions returned, choking off revenue from weapons programs and terror funding. But the job remains unfinished. The goal must no longer be the revival of broken deals, but the creation of a strategy defined by clarity, not compromise—one that draws hard lines and speaks openly in support of democratic resistance.
Scott Feltman, executive vice president of the One Israel Fund, expressed the stakes with precision: “Iran is one of the richest countries in oil and gas. They don’t need nuclear energy. They want nuclear weapons. They want to destroy Israel—and once that’s done, they want to destroy the United States.”
That is not rhetoric. That is the regime’s own doctrine. And it demands a serious answer.
The United States must reject any policy that normalizes terror under the disguise of diplomacy. Enrichment must end permanently. International inspections must be complete and continuous. The regime must be denied both legitimacy and leverage. And most importantly, Iranian voices calling for freedom must be heard, amplified, and respected.
Regime change by force is not the aim. The real solution lies in helping Iranians reclaim their future on their own terms—with moral support, political recognition, and an unwavering refusal to reward tyranny.
The opportunity for leadership still exists. But leadership, in this case, must mean more than walking away from flawed negotiations. It must mean standing with those who continue to risk their lives in the streets of Tehran—not with handshakes behind closed doors, but with open declarations of solidarity and strength.
Thank You,
Gregory Lyakhov
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