A segment of the Iranian American community is publicly thanking former President Donald Trump for his administration's assertive stance against the Islamic Republic of Iran, urging him to "finish the job" and support the liberation of the Iranian people.
In a statement, a group identifying as Iranian Americans highlighted their disappointment with past U.S. administrations, which they claim attempted diplomacy and engagement with Iran without achieving meaningful reform. They cite a history of perceived failures, from the Carter administration's handling of the Shah's fall and the hostage crisis to the Obama administration's policies, including the release of funds to Tehran.
"We watched Jimmy Carter lose the Shah and gain the hostage crisis. We watched Ronald Reagan trade arms for hostages and get lied to for his trouble. We watched Bill Clinton float engagement while the regime blew up Khobar Towers. We watched George W. Bush call Iran part of an axis of evil and then hand the regime a $700 billion gift by removing Saddam from its western flank. We watched Barack Obama fly pallets of cash into Tehran and pretend it was diplomacy. We watched Joe Biden lift sanctions, unfreeze billions and shrug while the regime funded Oct. 7," the statement reads.
In contrast, they credit Trump with taking decisive action against Iran's nuclear infrastructure, reimposing sanctions, and rescinding oil waivers. The group applauds Trump for publicly characterizing the Islamic Republic as a "hostage-taking regime" unwilling to be reformed through negotiation, a sentiment they believe is shared by the majority of Iranians both inside and outside the country.
The statement emphasizes the Iranian people's long-standing desire for fundamental freedoms, including the right to choose their religion, love, attire, education, and speech without fear of reprisal. It points to various protests in Iran since 2009 as evidence of this widespread aspiration for freedom, contrasting it with the regime's response, which the group describes as violent and deadly.
This community views the Iranian people as America's most crucial allies on the ground in challenging the current regime. They assert that the United States must continue to weaken the regime's military, financial networks, and its capacity for intimidation. The statement also frames the ongoing conflict and the resulting American casualties as a direct consequence of the Islamic Republic's actions, citing past attacks on U.S. service members and diplomatic personnel.
"Every single one of those losses is a tragedy. No American should ever suffer a scratch, let alone lose a life, at the hands of this deadly regime and its deadly ideology," the statement declares, noting that military efforts have aimed to minimize both American and Iranian civilian casualties.
The signatories express that they are not advocating for war but are bearing witness to a situation they believe requires continued pressure. They conclude by urging Trump to persist in his approach, advocating for the eventual freedom of Iran.
"And what we are witnessing, finally, is an American president who has looked the Islamic Republic in the eye and refused to blink. So thank you, Mr. President. Now please do what every previous administration was too afraid to do. Finish the job. Free Iran."