The recently exposed aggression by Iran demonstrates it’s time for the United States and peace-loving nations to upend the terrorist regime once and fall all.
Despite the Obama Administration’s failed attempt to bride the rogue regime with cold, hard American cash and by lifting sanctions in return for a one-sided nuclear deal, Iran’s extremist leaders have never stopped funding its terrorist affiliates. Rallies routinely feature Iranian leaders chanting “Death to America.” School-age children are taught to hate Israel and western countries with propaganda and rhetoric. This is the same type of indoctrination used by ISIS until U.S.-led coalition forces destroyed its so-called caliphate.
Led by President Donald Trump, harsh sanctions have been leveled that has put Iran in an economic stranglehold. The administration has gone as far as to directly crack down on extremist leaders’ ability to employ their resources to support terror activities without getting their hands dirty.
“It’s about proactive deterrence because the Iranians just want to go out and do what they want to do and say hey we didn’t do it. We know what they’ve done,” a U.S. State Department official said. “These commanders sit atop a bureaucracy that supervises the IRGC’s malicious regional activities, including its provocative ballistic missile program, harassment, and sabotage of commercial vessels in international waters, and its destabilizing presence in Syria.”
The Trump Administration has gone as far as to sanction eight of Iran’s military leaders, and heads of state, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In international diplomacy circles, this is considered the point of no return. President Trump had already listed Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps as a terror organization.
“This unprecedented step, led by the Department of State, recognizes the reality that Iran is not only a State Sponsor of Terrorism, but that the IRGC actively participates in, finances, and promotes terrorism as a form of statecraft,” a White House statement said. “The IRGC is the Iranian government’s primary means of directing and implementing its global terrorist campaign. If you are doing business with the IRGC, you will be bankrolling terrorism.”
The rogue regime has been linked to training and funding terrorism as far back as 1979, and has reportedly never stopped its despicable policies. Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Hamas in Gaza rank among the primary recipients of Iran’s funding and tactical support. The United States stands among many nations that have cited Iran for state-sponsored terror.
Albania expelled Iranian officials in 2018 for what its official called “violating their diplomatic status and supporting terrorism.” Bahrain uncovered a bomb-making factory lined to Iran’s Islamic Guard in 2015. Israel, Kenya, Argentina, Thailand, France, and Denmark, among others have all legitimately accused Iran proliferating terrorism around the world. In terms of taking the next step and dealing with Iran as a complete terror organization, Americans need only recall the bombing of the U.S. embassy in Beirut that killed 58, and military barracks that took the lives of 241 in 1983. The suicide bombers who drove the vans filled with explosives were ruled members of Hezbollah, an Iranian affiliate.
In recent weeks, Iran downed an American drone in violation of international aviation laws. Many people anticipated President Trump would respond with an extreme and disproportional strike. However, the president called off the use of direct force based on potential innocent civilian casualties. Instead, American forces downed an Iranian drone and are taking a hard position on Iran military activities in the region. Trump also ordered cyberattacks to disrupt Iran’s military and infrastructure.
Since the Trump Administration stifled its ability to fund terror affiliates, Iran has been forced to use its military directly. The rogue nation has been exposed for bombing a ship, and recently went as far as to repel military personnel to seize a pair of British oil tankers.
For decades, Iran has been able to hide like cowards while funneling money and support for the world’s most heinous terror groups. Now that the Trump Administration has forced its actions into plain sight for the world to see, the time has come to deal with Iran’s leaders like the terrorists they are.
