Staff Reports
Fred Fleitz and Brig. Gen. Blaine Holt (Ret.) told Newsmax this week what many of us already know: talking isn’t working with Iran. On “American Agenda” they argued that President Trump should stop reacting and start dictating terms. If America wants real results, it must make its demands clear and back them up with real consequences — not more bland statements and press releases.
Tell Iran the Terms — Not the Other Way Around
President Trump should set clear, non-negotiable terms: stop enriching uranium, halt missile tests, end support for militias, return seized vessels and hostages, and pay reparations for attacks on shipping and allied forces. These are simple demands. They protect American lives and keep shipping lanes open. They also force Iran to choose: change behavior or face real costs. For too long, vague rhetoric and endless negotiations have let Tehran reset the clock and press its luck.
Military Options, Economic Pressure, and Covert Tools
Diplomacy needs a backbone. That means credible military options on the table: precision strikes to degrade missile launchers and command centers if Iran attacks again. It means stepped-up sanctions that choke off oil revenue and freeze assets worldwide. And it means covert pressure to disrupt the regime’s ability to fund proxies. You don’t have to like every tool to admit the toolbox must be full. Allies should be rallied, but America must lead and be ready to act alone if necessary.
Why Weakness Will Invite More Aggression
History is blunt: bullies test the line. When Washington looks soft, Tehran and its proxies grow bolder. Attacks on merchant ships, strikes on our partners, and harassment of American forces are not isolated incidents — they are part of a pattern. Critics who preach restraint without consequences are asking us to be victims of hope. That’s not strategy; it’s wishful thinking with a nice PowerPoint.
President Trump can choose a smarter, stronger path. He should spell out demands and give Iran a clear, short timeline. If Iran refuses, the response must be swift, visible, and costly. The goal is deterrence, not endless war: make the price of aggression higher than any gain. Iran should be offered a deal: stop what you’re doing, or be stopped. Simple. Clear. Effective — and exactly what American national security requires.
