Rep. Scott Perry, a retired Army National Guard brigadier general with nearly 200 combat flight hours, stated on Tuesday that ending the war with Iran requires a broad combination of economic and military pressure. However, he emphasized that ultimately, the Iranian people will have to confront the hardliners controlling their country.
During his remarks, Perry noted that President Donald Trump is seeking the best options to end the conflict while minimizing further bloodshed. “I know that this president doesn’t want the loss of life, and he doesn’t want this to continue,” Perry said. “And this, of course, is unprecedented.”
Perry highlighted the economic campaign against Iran as a potential key component of the strategy. He pointed to Middle Eastern nations, such as the United Arab Emirates, which have already informed their citizens that they will not engage in trade with Iran. “We know that some of the Gulf countries… have already told their citizens that they won’t be participating in any trade with Iran,” Perry stated.
He added that the U.S. must give this plan an opportunity to take effect, noting that it has not been seen on a scale like the current situation since World War II.
Complicating efforts to end the conflict, Perry described deep divisions within Iran between those seeking peace and hardliners determined to continue confronting enemies. “The problem is… there are multiple factions in Iran,” he said. “There are some that want to have peace and want to get this behind them, quit attacking their neighbors.”
Perry warned that other factions remain committed to the regime’s confrontation with the West. “Unfortunately, there are some hardliners who think that the only way to get to heaven is to kill everybody else that isn’t like them,” he said.
He stressed that regardless of whether military force or economic pressure resolves Tehran’s resistance, a lasting solution must come from within Iran. “The Iranian people eventually are going to have to stand up for their own country,” Perry added. “We certainly know it’s difficult. We know it’s dangerous, we know it’s life threatening.”
Perry also acknowledged the political challenges facing Republicans ahead of midterm elections as Americans grapple with rising costs of war and daily expenses. “Look, nobody likes being at war,” he said. “Unfortunately, you can’t get your enemies to stop being your enemies.”
The Pennsylvania Republican argued that political concerns cannot override the threat posed by Iran. “You simply can’t allow people that shout ‘Death to America, kill Americans’ and mean it to have a nuclear weapon and be able to deliver it,” Perry stated.
