A former Trump national security chief of staff has stated that U.S. military deployments to the Middle East provide leverage in ongoing negotiations with Iran without triggering a ground invasion, as Americans oppose such action.
Fred Fleitz, who served as Trump’s national security chief of staff, said in a recent interview that the arrival of Marines and other forces in the region is part of a strategic diplomatic effort.
“We have infantry troops, special forces, and Marines going to the region,” Fleitz stated. “At a minimum, it gives the president leverage in negotiations with Iran, which are ongoing.”
Fleitz noted that multilateral talks are underway and emphasized that military pressure should be combined with diplomacy. He suggested limited military actions, such as potentially seizing islands in the Strait of Hormuz or coastal areas near the strait, but stopped short of endorsing a broader conflict. “At a minimum, I think we may be looking at seizing some islands in the Strait of Hormuz, maybe coastal areas near the strait,” Fleitz said. “But I think intensified bombings and diplomacy is the way this can be resolved.”
Fleitz also highlighted signs of weakness within Iran’s military, citing reports that children are being recruited by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). “Well, let’s first say that when you have armies recruiting children and old people, they’re losing the IRGC. The militia has been devastated by U.S. and Israeli attacks,” he added.
The former official predicted internal unrest in Iran could lead to a massive uprising among the Iranian population. “I think there will be a massive uprising by the Iranian people. They’ve been told not to come out yet because of the bombing,” Fleitz said. “But I think our next stage shouldn’t be invading Iran. It should be doing what we can to help the Iranian people take down this vicious terrorist regime.”
Fleitz noted that despite public rhetoric, the Iranian government appears open to negotiations. “In the meantime, I think that this regime, what’s left of it, does want an end to the fighting,” he said. “I think President Trump is right. They do want to negotiate. They lie publicly.”
Heritage Foundation Executive Vice President Derrick Morgan also echoed Fleitz’s views during the same interview session. Morgan stated that recent U.S. actions have strengthened negotiating leverage while maintaining strategic pressure.
“Now, we’ve got to recognize that this regime and its proxies have been at war with the United States for generations,” Morgan said. “And the fact is, President Trump deserves a lot of credit for nearly completely annihilating their military, for setting back their nuclear program and missile program.”
Morgan added that ensuring stability in key global shipping lanes—particularly the Strait of Hormuz—is the current priority. “Now is the more difficult part,” he said. “If you have elite small numbers of troops geared toward those objectives, it could conceivably work.”
Morgan concluded that troop deployments are designed to enhance diplomatic outcomes. “This is to try to get more leverage in the negotiations,” Morgan stated. “This is going to either end with the regime making a deal, or Trump is going to open the strait up one way or another.”
