Regime Change in Iran Through Military or Covert Action Violates America First Principles
Source: The American Conservative. "War and ‘Covert Action’ Are Not How to Deal With Iran - The American Conservative." February 11, 2026. www.theamericanconservative.com
The Gist
The author argues America shouldn't try to overthrow Iran's government through either military attacks or secret CIA operations. They claim this goes against America's founding principles of letting other countries choose their own governments, and point to how past CIA operations in the Middle East backfired and made things worse.
Conclusion
The United States should not pursue regime change in Iran through either military intervention or covert operations because such actions violate America First principles and harm both American interests and national character
Premises
- Historical CIA covert operations in the Middle East have consistently failed and often produced opposite results, including creating the conditions for Iran's current Islamic Republic through Operation Ajax in 1953
- Covert action and military intervention are functionally equivalent in their outcomes, both producing regional instability and diminished American resources despite cosmetic differences
- America's founding principles, as articulated by the Founders and John Quincy Adams, hold that each nation has the right to establish its own government free from foreign interference
- True America First foreign policy must benefit the nation's moral character, not just serve strategic interests, and unjust acts like forced regime change cannot benefit national character
- Iran presents exceptional risks for intervention given its population of 90 million, nuclear capabilities, and largest ballistic missile program in the region
Assumptions
- Past CIA failures in the Middle East are predictive of future covert operation outcomes
- The Founders' vision of America First foreign policy should guide contemporary decision-making
- National character and morality are essential components of legitimate foreign policy
- Regional stability serves American interests better than regime change attempts
- The Iranian people's right to self-determination outweighs potential strategic benefits to the US