Military historian Victor Davis Hanson said President Donald Trump should establish an Iranian government-in-exile to oppose the Islamic Republic [1, 2].

This proposal suggests a fundamental shift in U.S. foreign policy by moving away from direct negotiations with the current regime in Tehran. By recognizing an alternative leadership structure, the U.S. would create a diplomatic framework for a post-Islamic Republic era.

Hanson discussed the strategy in an interview published by the Times of Israel and syndicated on MSN [1, 2]. He said that attempting to engage in dialogue with the existing Iranian regime is a futile effort. According to Hanson, a government-in-exile would provide a more effective tool for achieving U.S. strategic goals in the region [1, 2].

The approach focuses on delegitimizing the current government by providing a formal, recognized alternative for the Iranian people, and the international community. This tactic is designed to apply pressure on the Islamic Republic from both outside and inside its borders.

Hanson believes that the current diplomatic stalemate requires a more aggressive structural change. He said that the creation of such a body would allow the U.S. to coordinate more effectively with opposition forces and prepare for a transition of power [1, 2].

Such a move would mark a departure from traditional diplomacy, which typically recognizes the seated government of a sovereign state, and would instead prioritize the belief that the current regime is incapable of meaningful reform.

“Trump must set up an Iranian government-in-exile”

The proposal to recognize a government-in-exile is a high-risk diplomatic strategy that effectively declares the current Iranian state illegitimate. If adopted, it would likely escalate tensions with Tehran and could lead to a total severance of diplomatic ties, while simultaneously providing a legal and political focal point for Iranian dissidents globally.