President Trump took a major step towards world peace on Tuesday by signing the president's memorandum of understanding to revive his “maximum pressure” campaign in Iran. The directive aims to cut off Iran's path to nuclear weapons and reduce oil exports to zero. As one of the world's leading national sponsors of terrorism, Iran poses a serious threat, and Trump's policies are trying to curb its impact.
The move marks the beginning of a much-needed “maximum pressure plus” campaign designed to reverse the damage caused by the Biden administration's concessions to Iran.
The US and its allies could defeat the Iranian regime in 2025 without war or firing a single bullet.
With Trump returning to the White House, some unexpected developments in the Middle East may help him achieve his longstanding goals of regional peace and stability.
Since September 2022, Iranians have been widely regarded as “snake heads” that have put a historic challenge to the regime and promote conflict throughout the region. Protesters of the uprising rejected both monarchy and theocratic politics and called for a democratic republic. Their chants included “Down with Khamenei” (i.e. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the highest leader of Iran) and “Ayatollah, together with the oppressors, whether it is the Shah.”
In 2022, Ayatollah attempted to break the opposition by ordering at least 750 protesters murders and arresting more than 30,000. But despite the brutal crackdown, the Iranian people's desire for freedom remained shaken. Senior administration officials and analysts continue to warn that even greater uprisings are inevitable as economic and social conditions deteriorate.
To prevent the regime from falling down, Khamenei incited war in the Middle East through a proxy in Gaza on October 7, 2023. However, this move proved to be a tragic miscalculation. Instead of taking power, Khamenei emerged as the greatest strategic loser of the war.
The regime's regional defeat peaked with the collapse of its major Syrian ally, Bashar al-Assad. Since then, Tehran's so-called “axis of resistance” has continued to collapse.
Within Iran, it is linked to “units of resistance.” Mohahedin organization of Iranian peoplethe country's main opposition continues to promote the fight against the regime. The dominant theocracy has not faced such vulnerabilities since its founding in 1979.
These “resistance units” function nationwide, attracting brave citizens from all backgrounds, especially young women, who risk their lives to ignore the regime. They burn government symbols, taint its propaganda, spray anti-regulated graffiti, post images of opposition leaders on highway overpasses, and distribute literature to challenge them. Many also lead and organize anti-government protests.
Determined to crush this network, theocracy pours huge resources into its suppression campaign and relies on brute force. Between September 2022 and March 2023, authorities forcibly disappeared at least 3,626 members. The nine remain in the death row, some already running.
But despite these brutal crackdowns, resistance continues to grow.
The people's Mohahedin organization is Iran's National Resistance Council. Mariam RajaviNCRI president-elect has long defended a 10-point plan for Iran's future. Her vision includes free elections, abolishing the death penalty, ensuring gender equality, establishing independent judiciary, promoting a free market economy, and creating a secular, democratic, nuclear-free state that coexists peacefully with the world. Masu.
In November and December, Rajabi spoke to the European and US Parliaments and outlined the roadmap for Iran's first free and fair elections. She also detailed plans to establish a permanent constitution and management system.
She repeatedly emphasized that the Council of Resistance does not seek military intervention or financial support from the West. Thousands of Iranian expatriates gather in Paris on Saturday to amplify the message.
Given his previous Iranian strategy and recent statements ahead of his second term, President Trump should welcome this message.
By imposing comprehensive sanctions on Iran's oil and gas exports, rejecting the regime's legitimacy, and recognizing the right to resist the Iranian people, the US and its allies fire wars and single bullets. Without it, you can defeat the government in 2025.
Now that Trump has revived his first-term maximum pressure strategy, he has to surpass sanctions. It is important to recognize the rights of Iranians to hold the regime accountable for crimes and to overthrow oppressors. Supporting their fight to establish Iran's “people government, people's government for the people” would secure a historic heritage.
