Haley: Trump Must 'Finish' Iran War, Says Former Ambassador

Former United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley on Tuesday praised President Trump's ongoing military operations against Iran. In an interview with CNBC, Haley stated that the U.S. 'has come too far to stop'. She emphasized the need to finalize the operation, arguing that it is not comparable to the situation in Venezuela. Haley, who was a rival to Trump in the 2024 presidential elections, added that the work is 75% done and that the military performance has been 'miraculous'.

Haley urged to 'do it right and finish it so that we never have to deal with the Iranian regime again'. This positioning reflects a firm stance towards Iran, seeking a complete resolution of the conflict.

The U.S. and Israel launched joint strikes against the Islamic Republic on February 28, following the failure of nuclear negotiations. Trump has deployed over 50,000 U.S. troops to the Middle East as part of this military effort, including an additional 2,000 paratroopers last week. The conflict has now stretched into its fifth week, nearing the end of the six-week maximum timeline provided by the Trump administration at the start of 'Operation Epic Fury'.

This significant military deployment underscores the magnitude of the American intervention in the region and the administration's determination to address the Iranian conflict.

Several prominent Republican lawmakers have urged the president to bring an end to the fighting and pursue a peace deal with Iran, including known war hawk Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). Graham wrote in a post on social platform X: 'Keep it up Mr President. Wind down the war and wind up efforts for an historic peace deal,' in response to Trump’s Truth Social post about ongoing negotiations with Iran. This divergence of opinions within the Republican Party shows the complexities of American foreign policy and the different perspectives on how to address the conflict with Iran.

The pursuit of a peace deal contrasts with Haley's more aggressive stance, revealing internal tensions in the approach to Iran.

Haley also acknowledged the economic difficulties posed by Iranian counterstrikes in the Gulf states and restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz. Around a fifth of the world's oil consumption flows through the channel, and its effective closure has sent the global price of crude oil skyrocketing. Haley told CNBC that Iranian control of the strait is a challenge and that it is crucial to keep it open, stopping Iranian mining capabilities.

The importance of the Strait of Hormuz for the global economy and the concern about Iranian influence highlight the interconnection of foreign policy and global economic stability.

Haley has previously been critical of the Trump administration's foreign policy maneuvers, accusing the president of doing 'exactly what [Russian President Vladimir] Putin wants' after Trump clashed with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the beginning of his second term. In another interview with Fox News on Tuesday, the former UN ambassador warned that Russia could be the 'biggest winner' after the Trump administration loosened sanctions on the sale of Russian oil already at sea and to Indian buyers.

This criticism underscores Haley's concerns about the potential consequences of Trump's policies regarding Russia and Iran, and their impact on global stability.

Haley stated that 'Iran is going in the right direction'. The former White House hopeful added that 'pulling back on Russia and putting pressure on China will be important and getting the regional allies and our European allies to understand that, look, we’re all dependent on this from a global economy, so let’s all step in and finish this'. This approach suggests a broader strategy that involves multiple actors and addresses geopolitical dynamics beyond Iran.

Haley's vision reflects a comprehensive approach that considers global implications and the need for international cooperation to address the challenges posed by Iran.