By Gloria Ogbonna
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) said Thursday that the escalating conflict between the United States and Iran should come to an end through diplomacy, arguing that while a military response to Iran’s attacks was warranted, the ultimate objective should be to bring both sides back to the negotiating table.
Speaking during an interview on NPR’s “Morning Edition,” Shaheen said she believes the United States should combine a firm response to Iranian aggression with renewed diplomatic efforts aimed at reaching a lasting agreement that protects American interests and restores stability in the Middle East.
Discussing the ongoing conflict, Shaheen said it remains unclear what President Donald Trump’s long-term strategy is for dealing with Iran, adding that she believes the military campaign has failed to accomplish the administration’s stated objectives.
“The fact is, this is a war that he never should have undertaken,” Shaheen said. “None of the goals that he set out in the beginning have been accomplished.”
The New Hampshire senator argued that rather than weakening Iran’s leadership, the conflict has produced the opposite effect.
“We’ve not seen regime change,” she said. “In fact, we have a more hardline regime in place.”
Shaheen also pointed to several other issues she believes remain unresolved despite the military operations. According to the senator, Iran still possesses a substantial portion of its ballistic missile arsenal, retains its nuclear material, and there has yet to be a clear plan for addressing those nuclear concerns.
She further argued that Iran continues to exert significant control over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route through which a large share of the world’s energy supplies pass. According to Shaheen, disruptions in the waterway have affected international commercial shipping and increased economic uncertainty worldwide.
“They still have a significant number of their ballistic missiles,” Shaheen said. “They still have all of their nuclear material, and there hasn’t been a decision about how to address that. And now they control the Strait of Hormuz in ways that have stopped commercial shipping to the rest of the world.”
Because of those developments, Shaheen said she believes it is time to end the conflict through negotiations rather than continued military escalation.
“This is a war that needs to end,” she said. “The president needs to get back to the negotiating table, but he needs to negotiate a deal that’s going to benefit the United States and not Iran.”
NPR co-host Michel Martin later asked the senator what she believes would be necessary to persuade Iran to return to diplomatic talks.
In response, Shaheen said she supports a measured U.S. military response to recent Iranian attacks against American allies and commercial shipping, arguing that such actions can demonstrate resolve while creating conditions for renewed negotiations.
“I do think a follow-up to the Iranian strikes against our allies and against shipping in the Strait is an important response from the United States,” Shaheen said. “Hopefully, that will encourage the Iranians that it’s time now to sit down at the table and negotiate.”
Shaheen’s remarks reflect her view that the United States should maintain pressure on Iran in response to attacks against international shipping while avoiding a prolonged military conflict. Instead, she said, Washington should use that leverage to pursue a diplomatic agreement that strengthens U.S. national security, protects global commerce, and reduces the risk of further escalation in the region.
Source Breitbart
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