While all eyes were focused on the Western Hemisphere two weeks ago, many have begun to look back eastward to Iran. In what appear to be the largest protests in the history of the Islamic Republic, Iranians of all backgrounds and ages have flooded the streets, replacing the flag of the Islamic Republic with the Lion and Sun and demanding the end of the Ayatollah’s brutal reign. In response, the Ayatollah has massacred his own people, with estimates of Iranian deaths in the thousands.

In response to the Islamic Republic’s brutality, President Trump issued a series of warnings, suggesting if the regime continues to kill protesters he will respond on their behalf. Given in his first term President Trump enforced President Obama’s redline against chemical weapons use in Syria and in his second term President Trump enforced his redline in Venezuela, these threats should not be taken lightly. And yet – what do these threats really mean? How can the United States both protect protesters, ensure our word is taken seriously, deny Iran continued power projection capabilities, and avoid getting caught up in another long-term conflict in the Middle East?

The United States could consider targeting elements of the regime repression apparatus through either a precise physical strike – similar to Operation Midnight Hammer – or a cyber-attack to cripple their ability to surveil and identify protesters. But as we and our partners explained in our Iran primer in 2024, reversing the Islamic Republic’s capability and willingness to threaten American security isn’t just about maximum pressure against the regime – it’s about maximum support for the people.

By leaning into support for the Iranian people, the United States could help protect lives – President Trump’s stated objective – without risking broader escalation. This approach is why Congress recently agreed to a deal, which has passed the House and is awaiting action in the Senate, to appropriate $643 million for the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) despite the Trump administration’s attempts to defund the institution. While it remains ripe for reform, even the administration recognized its utility when it recalled nearly 40 laid off staffers to VOA Farsi after Operation Midnight Hammer to counter regime propaganda. At the same time, providing access to the internet through Starlink, supplying VPNs, and continuing a number of programs under the Open Technology Fund that allow the circumvention of government restrictions are important steps to ensure the Iranian people can communicate with each other, can share their message with the rest of the world, and importantly, can hear America's support for them.

Dictators thrive under the cover of darkness. As Senator Vandenberg once said, the United States can and should be the “beacon in the world’s dark night.” We should heed his message, and his warning too: that “if a beacon is to be lighted at all, it had better be lighted before it is too late.”

-Carrie Filipetti, Executive Director of the Vandenberg Coalition

Over the last month, there have been approximately 900 protests across Iran, with thousands of protesters reportedly killed by security forces. The protests started over economic complaints but are now focused on general dissatisfaction with the Iranian regime and its repression of the Iranian people. Ending the Islamic Republic of Iran benefits American interests — for 45 years, Iran’s current regime has funded terrorist groups, collaborated with other American adversaries like the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and Russia, brutalized its own people, taken Americans hostage, and plotted to assassinate Americans on U.S. soil. President Trump’s declarations of support for the protesters have been welcomed in Iran, and it is important the United States follow through on President Trump’s pledge to help protesters if Iranian security forces continue to kill protesters. Read our latest primer about the protests in Iran and actions items here.

Leveraging The American Edge for the Defense Industrial Base

In the last year, China’s defense industrial base produced fighter jets faster than the United States, doubled its inventory of ballistic and cruise missiles, doubled its nuclear warhead inventory, and became five to six times faster than the United States at acquiring weapons systems. While we rest comfortably on peacetime footing, China has positioned its defense industrial base to be on wartime footing. But though alarm bells are ringing, there is still some good news. This not the first time in American history our defense industrial base has lagged behind that of our adversaries, and just as we did in the past, there is a way we can close the gap. In this episode, we sit down with Vandenberg Advisory Board member Dr. Seth Jones to discuss his new book The American Edge and his recommendations for how to kick our defense industrial base into gear. The book is a thorough account of every phase of defense industrial policy from World War II up to its current state, and how we can leverage the edge that has made us a defense production powerhouse in the past. Listen to our latest Vandenberg Flash Focus episode here.

The Vandenberg Coalition (TVC) seeks two summer interns to contribute to the organization’s policy and government affairs efforts for the 9-week period from Monday, June 1, until Friday, July 31. Interns will receive a stipend of $3,000 for completing the program. The application deadline is Friday, February 27, at 5PM EST. Interns at Vandenberg will have the opportunity to further develop their understanding of national security, the legislative process, logistics and event planning, memo-writing, and of course, develop a comprehensive network in the foreign policy community. Their direct engagement in timely research may ultimately lead to publication and help identify opportunities for TVC to amplify the critical work being done by other members of the DC foreign policy community. You can read more about the positions here.