Ted Cruz urges Trump to seize opportunity to destroy ‘teetering’ Iranian regime

Sen. Cruz framed his recommendation as a matter of US security, saying the removal of Iran’s supreme leader would reduce threats to Americans.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

Sen. Ted Cruz said in a televised interview that he has urged President Donald Trump to seize what he described as a rare chance to strike Iran and bring about the collapse of its ruling system, arguing the moment could produce a historic geopolitical shift.

Speaking with CNBC, Cruz said he recently advised Trump not to “miss the opportunity” to move against Tehran, contending that Iran’s leadership is facing unusual vulnerability.

He said the next six months could mark a turning point not only for Iran but also for Venezuela and Cuba.

“We are at a moment where, in the next six months, we could realistically see the regimes in Iran, Venezuela, and Cuba all fall, and we could see them replaced with governments that want to be friends with America,” Cruz said.

Cruz cautioned that such outcomes were far from guaranteed, acknowledging significant risks. “There are a thousand ways that can go wrong,” he said, adding that success would amount to “the biggest geopolitical shift since the fall of the Berlin Wall.”

The Texas Republican said he raised the issue directly with Trump last week, arguing that Iran’s leadership is weaker than at any point since what he described as the 12-Day War with Israel in June 2025.

Cruz said the conflict had left Tehran reeling. “The regime has never been weaker,” he said. “They’re teetering. There are real-world consequences to losing a war.”

Cruz framed his recommendation as a matter of US security, saying the removal of Iran’s supreme leader would reduce threats to Americans. “What I’ve urged the president is: Do not miss this opportunity. If the Ayatollah is removed from power, it will make America much safer,” he said. He described Iran as “the leading state sponsor of terrorism in the world” and blamed it for the deaths of “hundreds of American servicemen and women.”

Cruz said he had encouraged Trump to back Iranian protesters and provide them with weapons, arguing that internal opposition should be empowered to overthrow the government.

He also suggested any near-term US action would be limited. “There’s a very real possibility we will see potentially in a matter of days limited strikes,” he said. “What we’re not going to see is boots on the ground.”

Separately on Tuesday, former State Department official Aaron David Miller speculated that Trump could publicly signal military action against Iran during his State of the Union address.

Citing recent scheduling moves, Miller wrote that Secretary of State Marco Rubio briefing Congress hours before the speech and postponing travel to Israel “wouldn’t surprise if Trump announces beginning of strikes against Iran in speech.”

“No president has ever announced the start of military conflict in a SOTU,” Miller added. “Why would they? That’s reason enough for Trump to do it.”