26 US-Iran Strategy During Donald Trump’s Second Term The Trump transition team has begun to reveal its foreign policy agenda, and one thing is clear: It’s bad news for the Iranian regime and the “Islamic Revolution” it patronizes. President Trump’s nominees strongly support a close WashingtonJerusalem relationship while advocating for an aggressive approach to Tehran. In the closing stages of his 2024 campaign, Donald Trump invoked Ronald Reagan’s “Peace through Strength” doctrine. It was rumored that senior policymakers in Trump’s first administration were reading Peter Schweizer’s book, Victory: The Reagan Administration’s Secret Strategy That Hastened the Collapse of the Soviet Union. In 2018, an anonymous White House official said “It’s no secret” that Schweizer’s book shaped their approach, revealing that elements of Reagan’s Cold War strategy informed the Trump administration’s use of sanctions, regional alliances, and support for Iranian opposition groups. Ronald Reagan’s strategy to defeat the Soviet Union combined economic pressure, military buildup, ideological warfare, and diplomatic isolation. He worked with allies, particularly Saudi Arabia, to lower oil prices, straining the USSR’s economy, and collaborated with Saudi Arabia in Afghanistan to support the mujahideen, further draining Soviet resources. Reagan imposed technology restrictions to hinder modernization and initiated a defense buildup, including the Strategic Defense Initiative, forcing costly Soviet military spending. During his first term, inspired by Reagan’s approach, Donald Trump pursued a similar strategy to counter Iran, aiming to exploit its economic and ideological weaknesses while avoiding direct conflict. Trump’s administration worked with allies to lower oil prices and intensified sanctions on Iran, particularly targeting its oil and financial sectors to weaken Iran’s economy. Militarily, Trump strengthened US alliances in the Middle East, enhancing regional defenses to deter Iranian aggression. He also employed cyber operations to disrupt Iran’s nuclear and military advancements. With the killing of Qassem Soleimani, the US administration disrupted Iran’s support for its proxies. Finally, by supporting Iranian opposition groups and promoting dissent within Iran, Trump sought to weaken the regime internally, challenging its ideological hold and pushing for a shift in Iran’s regional behavior. President Trump’s nominees strongly support a close Washington-Jerusalem relationship while advocating for an aggressive approach to Tehran Trump has started assembling his foreign policy teamtoexecutehisReaganesqueapproach. Florida Senator Marco Rubio, nominated for Secretary of State, has long championed stringent sanctions on Iran and opposed the 2015 nuclear deal. Michael Waltz, Trump’s pick for National Security Adviser, supports a strong US presence in the Middle East to counter Iranian activities. Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth has pushed for a decisive military stance against Iran. Elise Stefanik, Trump’s choiceforUNAmbassador,hasemergedasaleading advocate against antisemitism and called for intensified sanctions to curb Iran’s influence. Mike Cdr. David A. Levy is a retired US Navy Commander and a former US diplomat. His areas of expertise are maritime affairs, Middle East security, and US military and national strategy.
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