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The Iranian regime finds itself in a situation it has never faced in its more than 40 years of ruling. The pressures it is now under are the result of a coordinated and relentless approach by President Donald J. Trump, whose policies are systematically targeting every pillar of the Iranian state that supports its nuclear ambitions, regional influence and financial stability.

The strategy, often described as “maximum pressure,” is applying economic, military, and diplomatic force in a way that previous administrations, despite decades of involvement in Middle Eastern affairs, could not or did not. This approach has forced the Iranian leadership to confront the consequences of its actions while leaving no room for misinterpretation about the seriousness of U.S. resolve. The result is an Iranian regime that is significantly weakened, isolated, and desperate for relief, yet it faces the U.S. under the Trump administration and Israel united in maintaining the pressure until its nuclear program is completely dismantled and its destabilizing influence curtailed.

A central component of Trump’s approach has been the targeted degradation of Iran’s nuclear program. For decades, successive U.S. administrations had struggled to slow Iran’s nuclear ambitions without resorting to direct military action. Under Trump, a combination of intelligence operations, precision strikes coordinated with Israel, and sanctions enforcement has inflicted tangible setbacks on Iran’s enrichment capabilities and infrastructure.

Facilities such as Natanz, which were critical to uranium enrichment, were struck in a series of carefully calibrated operations that experts estimate have set Iran back by years. These actions, coordinated with Israeli intelligence and military efforts, demonstrate the unique ability of this administration to use both force and diplomacy simultaneously, ensuring that Iran cannot quickly rebuild its nuclear capabilities. The revocation of oil-sanction waivers further compounded these setbacks by reducing the financial resources that Tehran needs to rebuild after these strikes, leaving its nuclear program exposed and unsustainable.

Trump’s strategy extended beyond nuclear issues, to the broader regional power structure. Historically, Iran has relied heavily on its alliances with neighboring regimes and proxy groups to project influence and counterbalance adversaries. Under Trump, this regional architecture began to unravel. Iran lost Syria, depriving Tehran of an essential strategic partner. The Assad regime in Syria was a critical for Iran, providing a conduit for military supplies and support for its various proxies in Lebanon and across the Levant. The shift marked not only a symbolic blow to the Iranian regime but also a tangible disruption in Iran’s ability to maintain influence in the region.

Additionally, the effectiveness of Iran’s proxies, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza, has been sharply reduced due to U.S. sanctions and Israeli operations that targeted logistics, command structures, and financial networks. These actions have diminished Tehran’s capacity to project power indirectly, leaving the regime more exposed than at any point in recent memory.

A significant diplomatic achievement under Trump, with direct implications for Iran’s regional influence, was the peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan. This agreement ended decades of hostilities and is establishing new corridors of commerce and communication through the South Caucasus. For Iran, this is a strategic setback. Previously, Iran benefited economically and politically from its influence over Armenia and Azerbaijan, and the transit of goods through neighboring territories. The Trump-brokered agreement bypasses Iranian territory entirely, depriving the regime of both revenue and strategic leverage. By positioning the United States as the mediator and stabilizer in the region, the administration not only reduced Iran’s regional influence but also reinforced U.S. presence and authority in a historically contested area.

The potential reinstatement of United Nations sanctions through the snapback mechanism further reinforces the “maximum pressure” campaign. European powers, including France, Germany and the United Kingdom, aligned with the U.S. position, are reimposing arms embargoes, missile restrictions, and travel bans that isolate Iran from critical international engagement. These sanctions amplify the economic and political pressure, constraining Tehran’s ability to sustain its military and nuclear ambitions. Unlike prior enforcement efforts, these measures signal a firm stance in confronting the Iranian regime.

Economic constraints have played an equally critical role in weakening Iran. The decision to end the oil sanction waivers, a tool that prior administrations frequently used to maintain limited engagement with Iran, impacts Tehran’s primary source of revenue. Oil sales are a lifeline for the Iranian economy, funding both domestic governance and external operations, including support for proxy militias. If these funds were curtailed, the regime would struggle to maintain its internal stability while simultaneously attempting to sustain influence abroad. Such an economic squeeze would heighten domestic discontent, increase political pressure on leaders, and force Tehran to consider its options in a more constrained and exposed position than ever before.

The combination of military, diplomatic, and economic pressure has left the Iranian regime desperate. There have been signals from Tehran of willingness to engage with international powers, seeking relief from sanctions and potential negotiations. However, the Trump administration’s approach makes it clear that concessions will not be granted lightly.

Iran is apparently aware that it faces an administration under Trump that is determined to maintain the pressure until meaningful, verifiable changes occur. Tehran’s desperation underscores the effectiveness of the strategy: when authoritarian regimes are confronted with coordinated, uncompromising pressure — duress — they are forced to confront their vulnerabilities and recalibrate their behavior.

Understanding the “language” of authoritarian regimes has been a critical factor in Trump’s success. Maximum pressure is not subtle; it is a direct communication that dictators understand. It combines visibility of consequences, clarity of demands, and the credible threat of continued escalation. For Iran, this has meant that there is no ambiguity about the costs of pursuing nuclear weapons, maintaining proxy operations, or destabilizing the region. Force, coordinated international sanctions, and strategic diplomacy have created an environment where the regime cannot rely on its previous strategies of coercion or intimidation. This approach demonstrates that sustained, multidimensional pressure can achieve outcomes that decades of negotiation and partial agreements could not.

The future for the Iranian regime, under continued maximum pressure, depends on the EU maintaining a firm stance as well. Iran’s nuclear program must be dismantled entirely, financial and military support for proxy groups curtailed, and no concessions offered that could weaken the credibility of the strategy. The regime is now operating in a constrained environment, isolated regionally and globally, financially weakened, and forced to consider the consequences of any further aggressive action.

Thanks to the policies implemented under Trump, Iran’s leadership is experiencing a level of pressure that it has never before faced. The strategic gains achieved in less than a year demonstrate the unique effectiveness of uncompromising policy. This historic moment represents an opportunity to reshape the region, limit the threats posed by Iran, and reinforce the principle that force, when applied strategically, remains a decisive tool in addressing state-sponsored aggression and nuclear proliferation – also in countries other than Iran.

The current approach to Iran represents a paradigm shift in U.S. foreign policy under Trump’s leadership. By combining military action, economic sanctions and political leverage, with a clear understanding of how authoritarian regimes respond to pressure, the strategy has inflicted profound setbacks on Iran. Its nuclear program is impaired, its regional influence diminished, and its financial resources constrained. Thank you, President Trump!

Dr. Majid Rafizadeh, is a political scientist, Harvard-educated analyst, and board member of Harvard International Review. He has authored several books on the US foreign policy. He can be reached at dr.rafizadeh@post.harvard.edu