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Larry Kudlow didn’t mince words on America Reports this week when he warned that Iran “has made an enormous mistake,” and conservatives across the country should take notice. The longtime defender of free markets and a steady hand on economic policy reminded viewers that this is not the time for appeasement but for decisive action to protect American lives and commerce. Kudlow’s clear-eyed assessment is exactly the kind of backbone leadership the country needs as the regime in Tehran pushes its luck.
The provocation from Tehran has been brutal and unmistakable: Iranian forces have attacked commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and effectively tried to shut down one of the world’s most vital shipping lanes, putting innocent mariners at risk. Those attacks have killed and injured crew members and created an immediate, tangible threat to global trade and American energy security. Ordinary Americans who fill up their tanks or run small businesses are already feeling the pain of these reckless actions.
Washington answered in kind, authorizing targeted strikes and reimposing a naval blockade to keep Iran from weaponizing the strait and terrorizing civilian shipping. U.S. Central Command reported precision strikes against Iranian coastal defenses and weapons systems specifically tied to attacks on commercial shipping, a measured but firm move to blunt Tehran’s capability. This is not warmongering; it is protection of maritime freedom and American lives—and it is exactly what a strong country must do.
Conservatives should welcome the idea, pushed by voices like Kudlow, that economic pressure and military resolve can bring Iran to heel without ceding American leverage. Kudlow has argued repeatedly that crushing Iran’s ability to finance aggression and disrupt the global economy must be on the table, because half-measures only invite more attacks. If we want peace, we must be willing to impose real costs on a regime that exports terror and seeks to choke the world’s energy arteries.
Make no mistake: the economic fallout from Tehran’s gambit is real for working Americans. Global oil markets tightened, supply chains were strained, and businesses from farms to trucking companies felt price shocks that trickle down to every family’s budget. The stakes are simple—protect the flow of commerce and energy now or watch inflation and instability worsen at home.
Diplomacy still has a role, but it must come from a position of strength, not from groveling or unilateral concessions that reward aggression. Regional mediators have floated ceasefire proposals, and those talks deserve scrutiny only after Tehran demonstrates a willingness to respect navigation rights and stop arming proxies. Until then, American resolve—economic, diplomatic, and military—must remain ironclad.
Patriots should stand with our commanders and sailors who are defending international law and American interests in the Gulf. This is a fight for the free world’s lifelines, not a partisan game, and it demands the same fiery conviction that built this country. Iran made its choice; now the United States must finish the job and ensure that freedom of the seas, and the safety of American families, prevail.
