Former White House national security adviser John Bolton said Sunday that the United States has not completed its objectives in the conflict with Iran, which marked its two-month anniversary. Speaking on NewsNation's "The Hill Sunday," Bolton argued that while the U.S. holds a strategic advantage, more remains to be done.
"My definition of finishing the job is ousting the regime in Tehran, but there are steps less than that that President Trump could take, and I'm a little surprised that he hasn't done it," Bolton told host Chris Stirewalt.
President Trump, speaking Thursday to Newsmax's Greta Van Susteren, expressed dissatisfaction with the current state of U.S.-Iran relations amid stalled nuclear deal negotiations. "We've already won, but I want to win by a bigger margin," Trump said. "We've destroyed everything. If we leave right now, it will take them 20 years to rebuild, if they ever could rebuild, but it's actually not good enough." The president added that the U.S. must secure guarantees Iran will never obtain a nuclear weapon.
Iran's government has indicated it is reviewing the U.S. response to its latest proposal for ending the conflict, though Tehran has emphasized these discussions are not focused on nuclear issues.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive critics of the administration's Iran strategy have pointed to polling data suggesting public skepticism about the military campaign. A Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos survey found that 61 percent of American respondents said they believed the Trump administration did the wrong thing in initiating its military operation against Iran a few months ago.
Democratic lawmakers have called for greater transparency about the conflict's objectives and costs. Some progressive advocacy groups have argued that diplomatic negotiations, rather than military pressure, offer a more sustainable path to preventing Iranian nuclear development.
Human rights organizations have raised concerns about the impact of the conflict on civilian populations in Iran and the broader region.
What the Right Is Saying
Supporters of the administration's hardline stance argue that sustained military pressure is necessary to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Conservative foreign policy analysts contend that the Islamic Republic has repeatedly violated international agreements and cannot be trusted to honor any diplomatic commitments.
Republican lawmakers have largely backed Trump's approach, arguing that past administrations' attempts at engagement with Tehran failed to curb Iran's nuclear program or regional aggression. Some conservative commentators have praised Bolton's call for completing the mission, saying regime change in Iran would eliminate a longstanding threat to U.S. interests and allies in the Middle East.
What the Numbers Show
The conflict has now lasted more than two months since its initiation by the Trump administration.
At least 24 attacks on vessels have occurred near the Strait of Hormuz since the start of hostilities, according to reports tracked by the British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center. The strait remains closed to normal commercial traffic as a result of ongoing tensions.
The economic impact has extended to American consumers. According to AAA data cited in reporting, the average price for a gallon of gasoline in the U.S. now stands at approximately $4.45, representing an increase from $3.17 per gallon one year ago—a rise analysts attribute partly to disruptions in global oil shipping routes.
The Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos survey found 61 percent of respondents viewed the military operation as a mistake, while 34 percent said it was the right decision.
The Bottom Line
The administration faces competing pressures: hawks like Bolton urging escalation toward regime change, while polling indicates majority public opposition to the current military campaign. Trump has insisted the U.S. must secure binding guarantees that Iran will never acquire nuclear weapons before any resolution to the conflict.
Tehran's review of its latest proposal suggests diplomatic channels remain open, though fundamental disagreements over objectives persist. The ongoing attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz underscore the economic stakes of continued hostilities for global trade and American consumers already facing elevated gasoline prices.