Iran's attacks on commercial shipping and civilian crews in the Strait of Hormuz demanded a military response, which is what the U.S. Central Command delivered. Letting a hostile regime dictate terms on a vital international waterway is a strategic failure, and any adviser unwilling to take decisive action to end that threat has no place at the table. The moment calls for resolve, not restraint.

Trump is misreading Iran's position. The central issue isisn't not internal political divisions but Tehran's refusal to restore the pre-conflict status quo in the Strait of Hormuz. While the United States can escalate, Iran also has tools to retaliate, including disrupting regional shipping. Without a clearly defined strategy, continued U.S. efforts to reverse current realities are likely to trigger stronger Iranian responses.