The State of Israel retaliated against Iran's earlier barrage of missiles and drones with a limited strike in Isfahan recently, although the nuclear enrichment facility was untouched. Concerns this could lead to a wider war have flourished in the wake of the attacks, which was the subject of discussion by Representative Mike Waltz (R-FL) in a recent appearance on Fox and Friends First, where he speculated on when the Biden Administration would "admit our Middle East policy has completely failed."
Host Carley Shimkus began by asking about the consideration of an additional $1 billion for Israel on top of the House's foreign aid package, which was met with opposition by over 50 Democrats. Rep. Waltz commented President Biden would have a "political problem on his hands with this transfer," echoing previous comments made near the end of March.
Co-host Todd Piro pivoted to how the White House and Israel are seeking to avoid a wider war in the region, to which Rep. Waltz responded by suggesting the Jewish State's retaliatory strike had a messaging aspect.
More damningly, he speculated, "At what point does Biden just sit down with his team and admit, 'our Middle East policy has completely failed?' And we have gone from the Abraham Accords to open warfare between Israel and Iran. And every time they say, 'de-escalate,' every time they try to pull back, our enemies push farther forward."
Moreover, Waltz repeated his familiar demand for the Biden Administration to tamp down on Iranian oil sales through the SHIP Act previously introduced by Representative Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) and greater pressure on Iran through strict enforcement of sanctions.
"Sanctions are not worth this piece of paper unless you enforce them," said Waltz, holding a sheet of paper, "You have to go back to maximum pressure and actually enforce the sanctions."
Piro concluded the segment by asking Waltz if he believed Iran would retaliate. Waltz replied that a response from Tehran would likely be through the Lebanese terror organization Hezbollah, which he called "the insurance policy and the big hammer that Iran is still sitting on, Hezbollah to the north."
