In a powerful conversation with Lars Larson, Frank Gaffney, president of the Institute for the American Future and bestselling author of The Indictment, reflects on the passing of Dr. Michael Ledeen, a key strategist in Ronald Reagan’s Cold War victory, and applies Ledeen’s thinking to today’s challenge: Iran.
Gaffney condemns renewed efforts by Washington insiders to negotiate with the Iranian regime, calling it a textbook example of repeating failure and expecting different results. He asserts that the regime cannot be trusted, citing its consistent hostility toward the U.S. and its people, as symbolized by chants of “Death to America” even during diplomatic talks.
Honoring Ledeen’s belief that the West is already at war with Iran—though not by its own choosing—Gaffney argues that the only effective path forward is supporting the Iranian people in their efforts to reclaim their country. He outlines a bold approach: rather than striking elusive nuclear sites in a futile game of “whack-a-mole,” the U.S. and Israel should target the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)—the regime’s primary tool of domestic repression.
According to Gaffney, the IRGC’s infrastructure—command centers, supply depots, and arsenals—should be directly targeted. With this backbone weakened, the long-suffering Iranian population, he believes, will swiftly finish the job of overthrowing the regime themselves. He emphasizes that the Iranian people have shown a consistent desire for freedom, and that momentary military assistance could finally tip the balance.
Lars Larson notes that such an opportunity might have come sooner had the Trump administration continued into a second term, maintaining maximum economic pressure and denying Iran the resources to sponsor terrorism. Gaffney agrees that while that window has passed, the moment now demands clarity, firmness, and above all—speed.
In closing, Gaffney honors Michael Ledeen’s unwavering support for freedom and his signature call to action: “Faster.” It was Ledeen’s final word on almost every conversation about Iran—a call for urgency in the face of tyranny.