Washington (TDI): A senior adviser to US President Donald Trump has suggested that Washington should consider declaring victory and disengaging from the ongoing war with Iran, cautioning that further escalation could have serious consequences for the wider Middle East.
David Sacks, who serves as a White House adviser on artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency, made the remarks during a recent episode of the All‑In Podcast released on Friday. The venture capitalist argued that the United States has already significantly weakened Iran’s capabilities and should use the moment to step back from the confrontation.
“We’ve already degraded Iranian capabilities on a large scale,” Sacks said, adding that it might be the right moment for Washington to claim success and look for a path out of the conflict.
He stressed the need for a diplomatic “off‑ramp,” warning that prolonged fighting could push the region into a broader crisis. According to Sacks, if escalation fails to produce meaningful results, policymakers should focus on ways to de‑escalate tensions and avoid a drawn‑out war.
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Sacks also warned that some voices in Washington, particularly within the Republican Party, are advocating for a more aggressive military approach toward Iran. He cautioned that such a strategy could provoke retaliation that might destabilize the entire Gulf region.
One scenario he outlined involves Iran targeting critical oil facilities in Gulf countries or striking desalination plants that provide drinking water across the Arabian Peninsula. Such attacks, he said, could disrupt water supplies for tens of millions of people and trigger a major humanitarian and economic crisis.
He further noted that a prolonged conflict could stretch Israel’s air‑defense capabilities and potentially increase the risk of wider escalation, including the possibility of a nuclear confrontation.
Sacks’ comments came shortly before President Trump announced a large‑scale US bombing operation on Kharg Island, a crucial hub for Iran’s oil exports. Trump claimed that American forces had destroyed key military targets on the island, which handles the majority of Iran’s crude shipments.
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Iranian authorities say more than 1,300 people have been killed in the country since the fighting began, while officials in Israel report that 12 people have died in attacks linked to Iran. The US military has also confirmed that seven American service members have been killed during the hostilities.
Despite the intensifying military operations, Sacks emphasized that US leaders should carefully consider whether continuing the conflict would truly serve American strategic interests or risk expanding the war across the Middle East.
