Ted Cruz Gives an ‘Unequivocal Yes’ to Trump’s ‘Mission Accomplished’ Claim on Iran

Ted Cruz backed President Donald Trump’s declaration that the U.S. military mission in Iran had been accomplished, even as the war entered its sixth month, far beyond Trump’s earlier prediction that it would last only a few weeks.

Speaking on Meet the Press, Cruz said he agreed “unequivocally” that the president’s military objectives had been achieved. He said U.S. forces had eliminated Iran’s ballistic missile and drone capabilities, along with much of the infrastructure used to supply and manufacture them.

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Unequivocally

Cruz also described Iran’s air force as destroyed, its navy as sunk and much of its senior leadership as eliminated. “Their air force is in rubble on the runway. Their navy is sunk and at the bottom of the ocean. Much of their senior leadership has been eliminated. So in terms of military objectives, I think that is correct,” he said.

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Their air force is in rubble on the runway. Their navy is sunk and at the bottom of the ocean. Much of their senior leadership has been eliminated. So in terms of military objectives, I think that is correct

The senator said the U.S. blockade was now imposing about $500 million a day in economic costs, adding that Iran’s economy was in “free fall.” He distinguished that pressure from the military campaign, saying the active conflict had declined sharply, although occasional skirmishes continued.

Cruz said he supported a longer-term goal of regime collapse. He urged the Trump administration to arm Iranian protesters and Kurdish forces, describing Iran’s leadership as radical Islamist and a longtime state sponsor of terrorism. Asked why U.S. troops had not returned home if the military goals had been met, he said their current role focused on enforcing economic pressure.

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Now, I would like to see the longer-term objective be regime collapse