Trump Administration Gets High Marks for Middle East Actions, But Gaps in Understanding Remain

In the wake of events in the Middle East these last couple of weeks — Israel’s Operation Rising Lion and the U.S.’s Operation Midnight Hammer — this month’s newsletter will focus on the Trump administration’s perspective, role, decisions, and actions there. Some have been amazing and even spectacular, but others give reason for some pause, at least at this juncture. More to come, for sure!

“Top Middle East, Israel and Iran officials pushed out of NSC” by Marc Rod, Emily Jacobs at Jewish Insider, May 25, 2025

• It is concerning to see top National Security Council officials who were charged with responsibility for Middle East, Iran, and Israel issues dismissed from those positions in late May 2025.

“22-Year-Old Leading Terrorism Prevention Center at DHS” by Yasmeen Hamadeh at the Daily Beast, June 5, 2025

• This recent college graduate with zero foreign affairs, Middle East, or terrorism expertise, has been appointed to head the DHS Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships, which is mainly concerned with terrorism prevention nationwide. He’d worked on President Trump’s 2024 election campaign previously.

“Qatari prime minister secured Iran’s agreement to US ceasefire proposal after call with Trump, official says” at Reuters, June 23, 2025

“Trump says he doesn’t want a regime change in Iran: ‘Chaos’” by Diana Glebova at the New York Post, June 24, 2025

• President Trump understandably wants to see things in the Middle East calm down. But misjudging the apocalyptic eschatology of the Iranian regime leadership could lead to U.S. policy decisions that fail to anticipate how deeply committed Tehran is to restoring its nuclear weapons program and continuing its quest to destroy the Jewish State of Israel and the U.S. as well. His reluctance to support the Iranian people’s quest for freedom from an oppressive terrorist regime also consigns them to a brutal crackdown, now happening across Iran.

“Iran Launches Sweeping Crackdown: Hundreds Detained, Executions Underway” at Center for Human Rights in Iran, June 26, 2025

“Trump offers Iran $30B for nuclear deal” by Miri Weissman at Israel Hayom, June 27, 2025

• Even as the Iranian regime doubles down on its refusal to give up domestic nuclear enrichment and withdraws from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and all cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), President Trump and his envoy Steve Witkoff continue trying to persuade a regime fixated on Armageddon to usher in the End Times to instead discuss economic prosperity for the Iranian people.

“Trump declares China can purchase Iranian oil as market signals cautious optimism” by Anders Hagstrom at Fox Business, June 24, 2025 

• Following on an Israel-Iran ceasefire brokered by President Trump with mediation from Qatar, Trump announced in a social media post that China would continue purchasing oil from Iran. The announcement may calm global oil markets, but in so doing also signals White House willingness to acknowledge, if not specifically allow, that funding will continue to flow into Iranian regime coffers.

Donald J. Trump, @realDonald Trump at Truth Social, June 27, 2025: 

• “Why would the so-called “Supreme Leader,” Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, of the war torn Country of Iran, say so blatantly and foolishly that he won the War with Israel, when he knows his statement is a lie, it is not so. As a man of great faith, he is not supposed to lie. His Country was decimated, his three evil Nuclear Sites were OBLITERATED, and I knew EXACTLY where he was sheltered, and would not let Israel, or the U.S. Armed Forces, by far the Greatest and Most Powerful in the World, terminate his life. I SAVED HIM FROM A VERY UGLY AND IGNOMINIOUS DEATH, and he does not have to say, “THANK YOU, PRESIDENT TRUMP!” In fact, in the final act of the War, I demanded that Israel bring back a very large group of planes, which were heading directly to Tehran, looking for a big day, perhaps the final knockout! Tremendous damage would have ensued, and many Iranians would have been killed. It was going to be the biggest attack of the War, by far. During the last few days, I was working on the possible removal of sanctions, and other things, which would have given a much better chance to Iran at a full, fast, and complete recovery – The sanctions are BITING! But no, instead I get hit with a statement of anger, hatred, and disgust, and immediately dropped all work on sanction relief, and more. Iran has to get back into the World Order flow, or things will only get worse for them. They are always so angry, hostile, and unhappy, and look at what it has gotten them – A burned out, blown up Country, with no future, a decimated Military, a horrible Economy, and DEATH all around them. They have no hope, and it will only get worse! I wish the leadership of Iran would realize that you often get more with HONEY than you do with VINEGAR. PEACE!!!”
• Concern with this post from President Trump centers on what seems to be his lack of understanding about Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and his deeply-held belief in the Islamic Shi’ite eschatology of the Twelfth Imam. [Editor’s Note: The Twelfth Imam will emerge at the end of time to establish peace and redeem Islam, per Wikipedia.]  As well, President Trump seems not to know that faithful Muslims are obligated under Islamic Law to lie to infidels. These gaps in his understanding about intent and motivations of the Tehran regime could lead to errors in U.S. decision-making. 

©2025 Clare M. Lopez. All rights reserved.

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