Eight years later, things have changed significantly.
As President Donald Trump heads to the Middle East starting Tuesday, there’s a stark contrast to 2017, when he first visited Saudi Arabia. Back then, the U.S. still had the opportunity to hinder Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
Now, time is running out, and Iran’s progress towards that goal could be just weeks away.
To tackle the Iranian nuclear threat and avoid a larger conflict, Trump should lean on his past success with a strategy of strength, while disregarding the more isolationist voices in his administration.
It’s essential for Trump to focus on meetings with allies in the region.
During his previous visit, the groundwork for the Abraham Accords was laid, sparking historic shifts in the region and unprecedented collaboration between Israel and various Arab countries.
Trump had taken decisive actions like withdrawing from a faltering nuclear deal, imposing harsh sanctions that devastated Iran’s economy, and eliminating the Iranian terrorist leader Qasem Soleimani.
Throughout his first term, Iran had not advanced towards acquiring nuclear weapons.
However, the past four years under Joe Biden have seen a significant decline in pressure, as he sought to revive the Obama-era agreement.
The Iranian government responded to Biden’s indecisiveness by accelerating its nuclear program. By the end of his term, the country had edged dangerously close—within a week—of developing a nuclear bomb.
Now, Trump finds himself in a position to address the nuclear issue once again.
He must acknowledge that while Iran’s nuclear capabilities have grown, their negotiating power is weakened. Biden’s passivity allowed Israel to take action, significantly reducing Iran’s standing by targeting Hezbollah and crippling its air defenses.
Thanks to these developments, the Iranian regime is more susceptible to precise military strikes on its nuclear facilities and could face renewed severe sanctions.
Trump has already reignited his “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran, stating his intent to “completely demolish” the country’s nuclear program.
This approach sends a crucial message to hostile factions, urging them to reconsider their threats against Israel and the U.S.
Yet, some isolationists within his administration are advocating for a softer stance, which would echo Biden’s approach and risk returning to past failures.
This is simply misguided.
During my time as Trump’s UN ambassador, it became clear how Iran could violate even the weakest agreements, including missile launches and weapon smuggling.
As I noted during a visit to the International Atomic Energy Agency in 2017, Iran only allowed external oversight of its nuclear program to buy time to conceal its activities.
The only effective way to confront Iran’s wrongdoings is to impose significant consequences. Its leadership must fear that the U.S. and its allies could respond with military action.
Some within the Republican party argue that threats of force might trigger a war, but the reality is that failing to act decisively could lead to a far greater conflict.
An Iran equipped with nuclear arms would likely provoke an arms race across the Middle East and would almost certainly attempt to use its new capabilities against Israel.
The U.S., as Israel’s strongest ally, could find itself entangled in a broader conflict.
However, genuine concern about military action might compel Iran to abandon its nuclear ambitions, similar to Libya’s decision in 2003.
This is the objective Trump should articulate during his upcoming visit.
First, he ought to announce unprecedented sanctions aimed at Iranian oil, which is crucial to the nation’s economy.
Second, bringing regional allies together to showcase a unified stance against Iran’s aggression is essential.
Finally, he must clearly state that if Iran does not curb its nuclear pursuits, the U.S. supports military action against its nuclear program.
Trump understands that strength fosters peace—this principle has been evident since his first trip to the Middle East in 2017.
Given the failures of the Biden administration, the stakes are even higher, yet the path to success remains unchanged.
Trump’s journey this week could mark a pivotal moment in the fight against Iran’s nuclear program.
He may not have another opportunity like this.
