Former Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., said Monday that recent U.S. and Israeli actions against Iran mark an unprecedented military achievement.
He cautioned that Tehran retains the capacity to retaliate and will only negotiate under extreme pressure.
Speaking on Newsmax's "Bianca Across the Nation," King described the early phase of the conflict as historically significant.
"The reality is that what President Trump has achieved and Israel, along with us, has achieved in the first three or four weeks is incredible," King said.
"It's never been done in any other war before."
King characterized Iran as a "major military power" that has nonetheless been "decimated in a matter of days and weeks," pointing to the speed and scale of the campaign.
However, he warned that Iran's remaining capabilities should not be underestimated.
"They will still have missiles. They will still have ways of firing back," he said, adding that any continued attacks would likely be "acts of desperation."
Such actions are aimed at prolonging the conflict and creating fear in an effort to extract concessions from the United States and Israel, he said.
"They can hang on long enough, cause enough fear to cause the United States and Israel … to somehow give them a better deal than they should get," he said.
King expressed skepticism that either Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or President Donald Trump would soften their positions, arguing that Iran's leadership is unlikely to engage in good-faith negotiations.
"They won't negotiate because they're being reasonable. They won't negotiate because it's the right thing," King said. "They will only negotiate when they realize it's a matter of survival."
Even in that scenario, he added, Tehran would continue to push for maximum advantage.
"They will still try to get the best they can," King said.
King also emphasized the importance of enforceability in any potential agreement, warning against relying on commitments from the Iranian government.
"Whatever we agree on, we have to make sure it's totally enforceable," he said, describing Iran's leadership as "among the most evil dictatorships and powers in the history of the world."
"Their word means nothing," King added. "We have to really keep the screws on them."
His comments come amid ongoing tensions in the region and debate in Washington over the scope and objectives of U.S. involvement.
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Solange Reyner ✉
Solange Reyner is a writer and editor for Newsmax. She has more than 15 years in the journalism industry reporting and covering news, sports and politics.
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