Sen. Rick Scott, a Florida Republican, argued in an opinion essay that the United States should pursue a decisive outcome in its conflict with Iran, with the central aim of preventing Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) called for the United States to pursue “nothing less than victory” in its conflict with Iran, arguing in a May 13, 2026 opinion piece published by The Daily Wire that Washington’s “core objective” should be preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
Scott framed his argument around the view that, once engaged in war, the United States should aim to win and not accept an outcome short of victory. He wrote that he hoped for peace and a “denuclearized Iran,” but said the U.S. should remain focused on stopping Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
In the essay, Scott cited past attacks he described as linked to Iran, including the October 1983 bombing of the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut, which killed 241 U.S. servicemen, and the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, which he described as having killed “over 1,000” people, including Americans.
Scott also asserted that Iran’s leadership has chanted “Death to America” for “nearly half a century,” and argued that Iran’s governing system seeks to harm Americans and supports militant networks in the region. He praised President Donald Trump’s stance that Iran must not obtain a nuclear weapon.
Beyond the military goals, Scott wrote that the conflict has contributed to domestic economic strains, including high gas prices and rising fertilizer costs, while urging Americans to unite behind U.S. forces. The senator said he supported the ongoing operation, which he referred to as “Operation Epic Fury,” and argued the United States should press its advantage and conclude the conflict on terms he described as victory.
