Veteran Congress Leader Warns: Iran War Ends Only When People Confront Hardliners

Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., stated Tuesday that ending the war with Iran will require a broad combination of economic and military pressure, but ultimately the Iranian people will have to confront the hardliners controlling their country.

Perry, a retired Army National Guard brigadier general with nearly 200 combat flight hours, said during an interview that President Donald Trump is seeking the best approach 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, and he’s looking at the best options that he has,” Perry said. “And this, of course, is unprecedented.”

He emphasized that economic campaigns against Iran could become a major part of the strategy, noting that Middle Eastern nations like the UAE have already instructed their citizens not to engage in trade with Iran.

“We know that some of the Gulf countries, like the UAE, have already told their citizens that they won’t be participating in any trade with Iran,” Perry said. “And so, I think that we’ve got to give this plan an opportunity to see just exactly what it looks like.”

Perry added that such efforts face complications due to deep divisions within Iran between those seeking peace and hardliners determined to continue confronting their enemies.

“The problem is, among other things, is that 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.”

Other factions, however, 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,” Perry said. “And as long as they have any authority there, they continue to resist.”

Perry stressed that a lasting solution must come from within Iran itself.

“The Iranian people eventually are going to have to stand up for their own country,” he said. “We certainly know it’s difficult. We know it’s dangerous, we know it’s life threatening. But that’s the final, at the end of this, that’s going to be the answer to all of this.”

Perry also acknowledged the political stakes for Republicans ahead of midterm elections as Americans focus on rising costs and war-related 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 said.