President Trump has begun fulfilling his promise of severe retaliation against Iran for disrupting navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and killing U.S. service members. "They can't do anything about it," he declared. Tragically, the Islamic Republic has already killed 18 American soldiers stationed at U.S. bases in the Gulf, escalating a conflict that has simmered for decades.
A War Decades in the Making
When Ayatollah Khomeini seized power in 1979, he effectively declared war on the United States—"the Great Satan"—and Israel, "the Little Satan." His regime's rallying cry, "Death to America, death to Israel," has been the only diplomatic language Tehran has ever spoken. For 47 years, Iran has waged this war through direct attacks and proxies like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, resulting in the deaths of thousands of Americans and extensive damage to U.S. assets, including the USS Cole and military bases across the Middle East.
Both Republican and Democratic administrations have responded with sporadic efforts to deter Iran, hoping to induce peaceful behavior. But this strategy has failed repeatedly, as the regime's visceral anti-Western hostility is deeply rooted in a brand of Islamist ideology shared by terrorist groups like al-Qaeda and the Muslim Brotherhood. While these extremists represent a minority within Islam, their suicidal fanaticism makes them immune to threats of destruction. For those who embrace martyrdom, death is a reward, not a punishment—a reality that demands a more decisive response.
The Clash of Civilizations
John Quincy Adams once warned against "going abroad in search of monsters to destroy," but he also recognized the long-standing conflict between Western civilization and extremist Islam as a religious war. Today, this is better understood as a clash between radical Islamists and a Western order built on democracy, rule of law, and equality. Adams noted in 1830 that this war "cannot cease but by the extinction of that imposture," a view that resonates with the current threat from Iran and its allies.
Critics of Trump's erratic policies, including political partisans and concerned Americans, point to his tirades against "forever wars" as contradictory to his push for regime change in Tehran. However, there is no contradiction: the U.S. is already in a forever war of Iran's choosing, one that has lasted 47 years and drained lives, resources, and strategic focus. This has benefited other adversaries in the Moscow-Beijing-Pyongyang-Tehran axis.
A Formal Declaration
Congress has the power to declare the state of war that already exists between the U.S. and Iran. The attack on the USS Cole, the stated intent to assassinate Trump, and recent bombings of U.S. bases constitute clear acts of war. The Trump administration, in consultation with Congress, should consider the legal and political merits of a formal declaration—the first since World War II. Even if the decision is not to declare war, the mere consideration would send a strong deterrent message to Iran and other adversaries.
As Kaitlan Collins recently noted, Trump has been deeply affected by the ongoing tensions, and his administration's next steps will be critical. The U.S. has also faced challenges like halting bombing runs due to munitions shortages, highlighting the need for a coherent strategy. Meanwhile, disputes within the Republican Party over legislative priorities could complicate any war declaration.
Ultimately, regime change in Iran remains the essential objective, from which almost all other regional security benefits will flow. The U.S. and its allies have been under constant attack, and the Islamic Republic's demise would relieve not only Western nations but also many Middle Eastern states that have suffered from the anti-Muslim stigma generated by Iran's aggression. The time for half-measures is over; a formal declaration of war would clarify the stakes and signal America's resolve.
