With the U.S.-Iran conflict extending into its sixth month, Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz has advocated for a more aggressive U.S. stance toward Iran. Speaking on the "School of War" podcast with CBS News national security analyst Aaron MacLean, Cruz urged President Trump to increase pressure on Iran by arming Iranian protesters opposing the regime.

"I think our objective should be regime collapse," Cruz said, emphasizing that the U.S. should support Iranians in overthrowing their government without direct American military involvement. He stated, "What I believe we should do, what I have urged President Trump repeatedly, what I've urged Israel to do repeatedly, is arm the protesters, give them the guns, to let them overthrow their own government so that it's not American boots on the ground, it's Iranians fighting for their own country."

Cruz expressed openness to various opposition groups, including the son of the former Shah, Reza Pahlavi, and the Mojahedin-e-Khalq opposition group, provided they are not Islamist factions hostile to America.

He criticized a memorandum of understanding related to Iran, calling it a "disaster" and a "terrible deal" that could lead to billions in sanctions relief and $300 billion in economic development funds for Iran, potentially allowing Iran to maintain a permanent role in the Strait of Hormuz. Cruz added, "You'll forgive me if I'm not terribly eager to give them $300 billion to facilitate their carrying out their stated intent of murdering us."

The Trump administration clarified in June that the $300 billion in reconstruction funds would be voluntary and sourced from Gulf states and private investors, not the U.S. government.

Cruz first advocated for arming protesters in late January after Iran's crackdown on the country's largest wave of demonstrations in years, which reportedly resulted in at least 12,000 deaths.

The stated U.S. goal remains to degrade Iran's conventional military and nuclear capabilities, while President Trump has encouraged ordinary Iranians to "take over your government" and remove the hardline clerical regime that has ruled since 1979.

Sources