President Trump made it crystal clear aboard Air Force One that Iran is “starting to” cross the red line and that his administration is weighing “very strong options” in response to the regime’s brutal crackdown on protesters. The president warned that any attack on American interests would be met with overwhelming force, and he left no doubt that options short of boots on the ground remain squarely on the table.
This kind of decisive posture is exactly what America needs after years of weak, apologetic foreign policy from the other side of the aisle. The White House has convened senior officials for a high-level briefing to map out targeted options that would punish theocrats in Tehran while avoiding a quagmire, showing an understanding of measured strength.
Conservatives should be blunt: we must stand with the brave Iranians risking everything to reclaim their country from tyrants, and that support should be smart and strategic. The administration is already considering a toolkit that includes sanctions, cyber tools, and even restoring connectivity to oppressed citizens — actions that help dissidents and hit the regime where it hurts without needless occupation.
At the same time, the brutal facts on the ground demand a firm U.S. posture; independent monitors report hundreds dead and thousands detained as the regime tries to stamp out dissent with violence. Tehran is not bluffing about possible retaliation, which only underscores why a clear, overwhelming deterrent posture from Washington is necessary to protect American lives and interests in the region.
Even some on the left have been forced to confront the reality that this is not a time for moral equivocation, with voices across the spectrum acknowledging the horror unfolding in Iran and the need to respond. That bipartisan discomfort with Iranian brutality should translate into backing for options that uphold human dignity while preserving American security — not the usual hand-wringing that invites aggression.
Patriots know this administration must keep its nerve: back the commander in chief when he protects American lives, support the Iranian people in their brave fight for freedom, and insist Congress provide the tools needed to act decisively. The choice is simple — stand idly by while tyrants butcher their own people, or wield American power responsibly to defend liberty and deter threats; conservatives should make their preference unmistakably clear.
