The maximum economic pressure campaign is working against Iran, which is now trying desperately to draw President Donald Trump into an escalation he just will not give in to, according to Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy on Thursday.
"Obviously, I think the sanctions are working, that's why they keep acting out," Ruddy told Newsmax TV's "Newsmax Now."
"I think they would like to have a larger escalation, and I think the president's saying, 'Hey, I'm not going to necessarily play your game here, and we'll see if we can chart another course.'"
Despite President Trump's restraint to date, Ruddy believes "the president's going to act very decisively at a certain point."
"The Iranians would be very foolish to think that Donald Trump is not going to respond and retaliate at certain point if they do not come to the table," Ruddy told guest host Carl Higbie. "So, they're playing a very dangerous game. They have been upping the ante constantly."
Ruddy pointed to Iran's firing at an unmanned American drone, capturing and holding a British shipping vessel, and having likely involvement in an attack on Saudi Arabia's oil facilities.
"I think all of these are very serious, and I think at some point they should be responded to very significantly," Ruddy, a personal confidant of the president, said.
In lieu of a military response some are calling for, "restraint" is the president's path for potential peace talks for now.
"He's trying to forge a different path, and I'm willing to give him the latitude I think we should," Ruddy said. "You know, the restraint – you used that word earlier, Carl – let's show a little restraint and see if the Iranians do come to the peace table."
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