MS NOW host Joe Scarborough urged the United States not to hasten an exit from the Iran conflict, particularly in the lead-up to the midterm elections, warning that such a move could be "another terrible mistake." Scarborough expressed his opposition to prolonged military engagements, stating, "Far be it for me to be the guy that’s talking about wanting to be in forever wars, I most certainly do not."
However, he elaborated on his concern: "In fact, we were very clear, I was very clear that I thought going into Iran was a mistake, but just as that was a terrible mistake, we can’t make another terrible mistake on how we get out of Iran." He suggested that exiting prematurely would play directly into Iran's hands and would be a "nightmare to cave to a terror state for political reasons."
Scarborough’s commentary appeared to be a response to remarks from Fox News host Laura Ingraham, who suggested that the time was limited for President Trump to end the conflict if Republicans aimed to win in November. Scarborough criticized this approach, characterizing it as a predictable tactic employed by Iran.
"And if we got out of Iran, playing right into Iran’s hands as some people are suggesting in the Republican party … it would be a nightmare to cave to a terror state for political reasons," Scarborough said. "Fascinating, if you listen to them talking about politics. And it’s, of course, something the Iranians always depend on. They depend on Americans being strapped down to elections coming up that create false deadlines, that put us in a weak place to negotiate so we always have to take a soft, weak, tepid line."
He drew a parallel to former President Jimmy Carter's presidency, noting Carter's struggle to secure the release of 52 hostages held in Tehran before his unsuccessful re-election bid in 1980. Scarborough recalled, "Jimmy Carter had it hanging over him in the 1980 election against Ronald Reagan, so the Iranians knew time and time again they could take advantage of that weakness."
Scarborough expressed concern over potential concessions to Iran, particularly in the context of an upcoming midterm election. "Now, of course, you’re hearing some talk about an upcoming midterm election – not even a presidential election – where we’re supposed to back down, cave to Iran, give them an MOU [Memorandum of Understanding] where they get half a trillion dollars and become the most powerful country in the entire region."
He referenced a June agreement between the U.S. and Iran, a 14-point memorandum of understanding that formalized a ceasefire, reopened the Strait of Hormuz, and included potential waivers on oil sanctions and the unfreezing of Iranian assets. This deal, which set a 60-day deadline for a final agreement on Iran's nuclear program, reportedly collapsed after Iran attacked commercial vessels in the strait and the U.S. responded with airstrikes.
Scarborough criticized the financial terms of past engagement, stating, "We tried to bribe them, make no mistake of it, the Trump administration tried to bribe Iran with [$500 billion], after worrying about $1 billion or $2 billion of cash on pallets [delivered to Iran by former President Barack Obama]." He added, "The Trump administration tried to bribe Iran to the tune of $500 billion, half a trillion dollars – that was more than Kaiser Wilhelm II had to pay for Germany after World War I!"