Former National Security Advisor John Bolton is calling on the U.S. to step up support for Iranian opposition groups, arguing that it's a mistake to underestimate the influence of Iran's military leadership—especially with the November elections looming.
In a post on X Sunday, Bolton laid it out bluntly: "If the U.S. isn't going to act robustly against the regime in Iran before the November elections, we should be putting time and energy into the Opposition on the ground until then."
That's a pretty direct message to the Trump administration, which has been pursuing a mix of diplomacy and military action. Bolton, a well-known Iran hawk, clearly thinks the current approach isn't enough.
Earlier on Sunday, he also warned against any complacency about Iran's government. "It's a dangerous illusion to think that the government of Iran is just wounded, but continuing as it was before," he said. Bolton added that while "the MOU was negotiated by civilians," the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) "is still running the show militarily."
His comments come at a tense moment. Global markets turned cautious after the U.S. launched strikes on Iran following an attack on a commercial ship near the Strait of Hormuz. Iran retaliated with strikes on U.S. bases, and Tehran claimed the key waterway was closed—though U.S. Central Command said it remains open to lawful traffic.
The Trump administration says diplomacy with Iran is still possible, but it's also warning of a forceful response to further aggression. U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matt Whitaker said President Trump is committed to peace but would respond with "overwhelming force" if Iran threatened shipping or acted aggressively.
On Saturday, Iran reportedly refused to restart talks unless Washington changed its position, adding more pressure on energy markets and regional security.
So Bolton's message is clear: don't think the IRGC is out of the picture just because there's a memorandum of understanding. And if the U.S. isn't going to take stronger action before the elections, it should at least be backing the opposition inside Iran.
