For nearly fifty years, Iran has been a radicalized nuisance to the world. Their Islamic regime has taken hostages, committed terror attacks, maimed our soldiers with IEDs, and sponsored terrorist networks around the globe with their oil revenue. Even within their own borders, it is estimated that some 85% of Iranians detested the Ayatollah’s regime, as it has killed tens of thousands of its own citizens for voicing dissent.
Since labeling the US the “Great Satan” and threatening to wipe Israel off the map decades ago, Iran’s diplomatic relations with the modern world have been impossible. For decades Iran was the caricature of Islamic jihad, old men in white beards and black robes shaking their fist at the West and occasionally setting off bombs. However, their stockpiling of ICBMs and their ambition for a nuclear weapon made them a legitimate threat to the civilized world twenty years ago. President Obama chose to meet this threat with appeasement, offering billions of dollars in cash, freeing up tens of billions in frozen assets, and inking a weak, unverifiable, and unenforceable nuclear deal.
To the surprise of no one, Iran seized upon Obama’s weakness, took the cash and continued their enrichment. The first Trump administration tried to make a deal, but was shrugged off by the Islamic fascists. Biden’s disastrous presidency did nothing to address the issue, and the hour of a nuclear Islamic theocracy was quickly approaching. For decades every US president talked tough on Iran, but did nothing to thwart the threat. They simply kicked the can. But as we have seen time and time again, Donald Trump does not kick cans, he crushes them.
Similar to strategically positioning pieces on a chess board, US forces began to move towards the Gulf in January, ultimately assembling the largest deployment of military assets since the 2003 Iraq invasion. On February 27th, President Trump ordered Operation Epic Fury to commence. Hours later, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed, along with dozens of senior political and military officials. In early March, the US and Israel pounded military targets relentlessly. Iran, unable to meaningfully retaliate, began firing missiles and drones at civilian and energy infrastructure in neighboring Gulf states. Several members of US forces were lost in one of the attacks. New leadership figures in Iran were being killed seemingly as quickly as they were promoted. Then in late March, with their military decimated, Iran resorted to economic warfare, closing off the Strait of Hormuz, choking off energy exports. Oil prices rose dramatically. Again, President Trump’s team tried to make a deal with what was left of Iranian leadership. Talks failed and Hezbollah attacks led to Israeli operations in southern Lebanon. Then finally, with Pakistani mediation, a tenuous ceasefire was brokered, but the Strait remained closed.
The time was right for President Trump to bring out his queen.
The US Navy is the strongest maritime force the world has ever seen. The President and his War Department this past week used over a dozen warships to blockade Iranian ports. All other ships were allowed to pass through the Strait. The economic war table has been completely turned on Iran. Unable to export, the regime, or what is left of it, is now missing out on revenue of $435M per day. Presently, Iran’s fighting capabilities have been annihilated, their leadership is gone, and they have no money. To put the economic pain they’re experiencing in context, Iraqi currency is currently worth 1000 times more than Iranian currency. One would imagine the regime now wishes it simply made a deal with the Great Satan back in January.
As of this moment, the military engagement with Iran appears just about over. The blockade is set to stay in place until a permanent peace deal is struck. The US stock market is currently at an all time high. Crude oil prices have plummeted back to $81 per barrel, from a high of $113 during the conflict. After nearly 5 decades of tormenting the region and the world, Iran is no longer a threat. The positive implications of a neutralized Iran on global peace and trade are inestimable, and every major world leader over the past twenty years had the opportunity to act. None did, likely terrified of the political fallout, cost in lives and treasure, and fear of failure. President Trump and his War Department led by Secretary Hegseth, along with Israeli forces, accomplished the task in an astonishing six weeks. With no other moves left for Iran, this appears to be checkmate, and the Trump administration proves once again to be the historical embodiment of peace through strength.
I would like to dedicate this writing and eternal gratitude to the brave men and women of our armed forces who died in this conflict while making the world a safer place:
Capt. Cody A. Khork
Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor
Sgt. 1st Class Noah L Tietjens
Sgt. Declan J. Coady
Maj. Jeffrey R. O’Brien
Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert M. Marzan
Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington
Maj. John “Alex” Klinner
Capt. Ariana G. Savino
Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt
Capt. Seth R. Koval
Capt. Curtis Angst
Tech. Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons
