The United States "is holding the cards" as it finalizes the framework of a peace deal with Iran, retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Blaine Holt told Newsmax on Monday.
Appearing on Newsmax's "Wake Up America" with Heritage Foundation Senior Fellow Steve Yates, Holt argued that President Donald Trump has negotiated from a position of overwhelming strength after crippling Iran's military capabilities and weakening its network of terror proxies across the Middle East.
As the administration prepares to sign a memorandum of understanding with Iran in Geneva on Friday, Holt dismissed concerns that Tehran could use the 60-day negotiation period to stall or evade its commitments.
"But do they get tough?" Holt said. "Who's holding the cards?"
According to Holt, Iran no longer possesses the leverage it once enjoyed under previous administrations.
"They don't have a military anymore," he said. "We've cut off life support to the three terror groups or proxy groups that President Obama paid for in cash. We have levers on a potential revolution that we could aid and abet at any time. The IRGC [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps] is on life support and we can monitor the entire situation."
Holt said Trump's strategy stands in sharp contrast to former President Barack Obama's Iran nuclear agreement, which critics argued provided sanctions relief while allowing Tehran to continue advancing its nuclear ambitions.
"Appeasement doesn't work. It never works," Holt said. "And here's President Trump cleaning it up for everybody."
Yates echoed that assessment, blasting Obama's criticism of the emerging deal after the former president suggested it would not differ significantly from his own agreement with Tehran.
"Barack Obama gets the all-time chutzpah award," Yates said. "The president is not leaving behind any ability for Iran to enrich. We have destroyed their centrifuges. Those are what President Obama and his deal left in place."
Yates added that Trump's military actions dramatically altered the balance of power in the region, saying Iran's capabilities have been degraded to the point that the regime is struggling to project influence through its remaining proxy forces.
The discussion came as tensions persist between Israel and Iranian-backed groups, including Hezbollah.
While acknowledging that regional flare-ups remain a challenge, Yates said Trump is focused on securing a broader framework that could bring long-term stability to the Middle East.
For Holt, however, the key takeaway is clear: After years of failed diplomacy and concessions, the United States now enters negotiations from a position of undeniable strength.
"We're on the right track," Holt said. "President Trump is holding the cards."
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