Rep. Rich McCormick, R-Ga., stated Thursday that severe economic sanctions alone will not be sufficient to end the war with Iran.
In an interview, McCormick argued that President Donald Trump ultimately may need to maintain military pressure despite his administration’s new focus on economically isolating Tehran.
“You’re not going to do it just through economic sanctions,” McCormick said. “It’s not going to happen.”
The escalation follows months of conflict and stalled diplomatic efforts to reach a broader agreement with Iran.
McCormick, a military veteran who served in the Marines and Navy, noted that Iran can still obtain supplies through land routes and air transport despite economic restrictions.
“In my opinion, we should take the gloves off right from the beginning and hammer them,” he added. “I believe Trump’s earlier demand for ‘unconditional surrender’ offered the best path to eliminating the long-term threat posed by Tehran.”
McCormick emphasized that prolonged wars generally become less popular and argued that overwhelming pressure could bring the conflict to a faster conclusion.
The administration has announced what it called an “Economic D-Day” against Iran, warning countries against providing financial, commercial, or logistical lifelines to Tehran. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has indicated that the administration is preparing economic isolation measures unlike any used before.
