Republican former House Speaker Newt Gingrich issued a blunt warning Monday: Any nuclear agreement with Iran is doomed to fail unless the country’s radical Islamic regime is removed from power.
Appearing on Fox Business’s “Kudlow,” Gingrich dismantled the idea that diplomacy with Tehran could ever work.
He called the ruling mullahs a long-standing enemy of America and Israel with a proven track record of terror and deception.
“For 46 years, since 1979, the Mullahs, the theocracy, has said death to America,” Gingrich told host Larry Kudlow.
“As recently as a few months ago, the Ayatollah Khomeini went on national television to say, ‘I want to reassure you: death to America is not a slogan, it is a policy.’
“And, of course, the other part of that policy is death to Israel.”
Gingrich said the U.S. has tried to negotiate with the Iranian regime for decades.
However, the efforts have been met with nothing but failure and bloodshed.
“In 1984, the State Department said they were the leading sponsor of terrorism in the world,” he said.
“That’s been true ever since.
“At some point, you’ve got to learn the lessons of history.”
The comments come as President Donald Trump left the door open to U.S. military involvement in Israel’s offensive against Iran.
Trump told ABC News over the weekend that “it’s possible” America could get involved.
Meanwhile, Iran reportedly told Arab intermediaries it might be willing to talk, but only if the U.S. stays out of the fight.
That message came shortly before Trump confirmed Monday that Tehran had reached out.
Israel, however, isn’t waiting.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made clear that there would be no return to nuclear negotiations, stating that airstrikes on Iranian nuclear and military sites will continue “as long as it takes.”
A June 12 surprise attack by Israel eliminated top Iranian military leaders and dealt a heavy blow to Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.
However, Gingrich believes that anything short of regime change is a waste of time and likely dangerous.
“You wouldn’t have to use B2 bombers or giant blockbusters if you had a regime that agreed to destroy Fordow [nuclear facility] as part of a peace agreement,” he said.
He also argued that a secular, democratic Iran would not require American troops or dollars to rebuild.
“If you get regime change, you’re in a different world,” Gingrich explained.
“You wouldn’t need American tax dollars.
“There are an amazing number of very successful Iranian-American businessmen and businesswomen who would be thrilled to go back and invest in rebuilding Iran.
“It’s twice the size of Texas.
“It has huge resources,” he noted.
“It has people who are inherently smart and well-educated.”
He pointed out that such a transformation could make Iran a regional partner, rather than a permanent threat.
“If they were liberated from this theocracy, they would rapidly become prosperous, be good neighbors, and be a remarkable step in the right direction.”
Gingrich also credited Trump for refusing to play by the rules of foreign policy elites who have embraced decades of failed appeasement.
“I’m very proud of President Trump because he stood up against the appeasement, defeatist mentality of the elites,” he said.
“As long as he sticks to that and allows Netanyahu to continue his work, I think we will presently see a remarkable historic change in the Middle East.”
WATCH:
As Israel continues its offensive and Iran shows signs of hesitation, the future of the region may hinge on whether the West keeps its resolve or slips back into the same dangerous illusions that let the Islamic Republic flourish in the first place.
