Former State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus warned that Iran may be using drawn-out talks to buy time while President Trump presses pause on strikes to give diplomacy a chance. She told an audience in Washington that Tehran has a long history of stalling negotiations and that America’s negotiating posture now matters more than ever. The debate inside the Republican camp centers on using leverage wisely, keeping military options real, and avoiding open-ended entanglements.
Ortagus told the crowd that Tehran’s playbook is clear and consistent, and that the U.S. should not be fooled by slow-moving diplomacy. “It’s the tactic of the regime to stall, to draw negotiations, to buy time,” Ortagus said of Iran. “I would encourage the president not to fall into the trap that the Iranians like to do … which is to drag things out to buy time.”
The president recently paused planned strikes and extended diplomatic talks to let Gulf partners push for more time, even as pressure continues on Iran over its nuclear activities and regional proxy network. Critics on the right argue that past administrations let talks run while Tehran advanced its capabilities; that historical lesson informs today’s approach. Trump’s tough posture toward Iran is framed by allies and rivals as a change from previous, softer tactics.
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Ortagus, who worked on Middle East negotiations for the administration, says the current team has more leverage than previous ones. “I’m always hopeful in President Trump’s ability to give his negotiating team leverage,” she said. “I think this negotiating team has more leverage in their negotiations with Iran than any negotiating teams that preceded them.”
That confidence rests on a record of sustained pressure, not empty rhetoric, according to Ortagus. She argued that the president’s policies have significantly weakened Iran in ways prior administrations did not attempt. “The president has seriously degraded them in a way that no one has since the Islamic Republic’s founding,” she added.
Iran insists on a right to a civilian nuclear program and rejects demands for zero enrichment, calling military threats part of U.S. pressure tactics. Western powers and the International Atomic Energy Agency remain worried about enrichment levels and transparency, and those concerns shape the Republican view that negotiations must be backed by credible risk of force. That blend of diplomacy and deterrence is central to the current strategy.
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Domestic conservatives worry about mission creep and want resources focused at home, but many also accept a limited, decisive use of force when necessary. Ortagus differentiates the present approach from the so-called forever wars, arguing this conflict can be managed without open-ended intervention. “I think there’s an in-between,” she said. “A very careful, thoughtful use of force when necessary, always preferring to negotiate … but also being willing to use American firepower if necessary.”
Respect for presidential authority is central to her argument about who makes the call in moments of crisis. “I totally respect the office of the presidency and that he’s the one that has to make the final decisions on these,” she added, reminding conservatives that unity behind a clear, accountable chain of command is crucial. That stance echoes a broader Republican preference for strong executive control in foreign policy.
The talks are also tied to efforts to steady the Israel-Lebanon front, where U.S.-backed ceasefire moves have tried to limit wider escalation between Hezbollah and Israeli forces. Ortagus, who led Israel-Lebanon talks previously, stresses that Hezbollah acts as Iran’s strategic muscle in Lebanon and must be seen as part of Tehran’s network. “The big dispute comes with Hezbollah, which is an Iranian proxy that has, of course, been a cancer to the state of Lebanon and has in many ways occupied that country,” she said.
She argues that both Lebanon and Israel share an interest in avoiding larger conflict, but Hezbollah repeatedly undermines those prospects by operating beyond the Lebanese state’s control. “The Lebanese government didn’t decide,” she said of the current conflict. “Hezbollah decided for the country of Lebanon.” Ortagus believes a reduced Hezbollah role would open space for more stable ties and eventual normalization between Israel and Lebanon.
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Israeli officials have reiterated they hold no territorial claims in Lebanon and that the core dispute is Hezbollah’s armed presence, a point echoed by Ortagus and others at the Forum. “There’s not territorial claims from Israel into Lebanon,” Ortagus added. “There’s nothing stopping normalization,” Leiter said during his keynote address. “It would all be fine, but Hezbollah is holding Lebanon hostage.”
For Republicans focused on results, the goal is clear: use diplomatic openings without ceding leverage, keep military options credible, and pressure Iran’s proxy network to reduce its capacity for regional disruption. The strategy is framed as pragmatic and forceful rather than naive, aiming to protect U.S. interests while avoiding endless entanglement.
Darnell Thompkins is a Canadian-born American and conservative opinion writer who brings a unique perspective to political and cultural discussions. Passionate about traditional values and individual freedoms, Darnell’s commentary reflects his commitment to fostering meaningful dialogue. When he’s not writing, he enjoys watching hockey and celebrating the sport that connects his Canadian roots with his American journey.