Fox News contributor Hugh Hewitt said combat operations may need to resume to bring U.S. negotiations with Iran to a successful conclusion.
The assessment suggests a potential shift in strategy if diplomatic efforts fail to yield a deal. This tension highlights a possible disconnect between the administration's expectations and the geopolitical reality of Iranian resistance.
During a "Special Report" panel discussion on May 16, 2026, Hewitt discussed the feasibility of a diplomatic agreement. He said the current strategy may be financially risky if it relies on the assumption that Iran will capitulate quickly [1].
"Combat operations will resume to bring Iran to a successful conclusion," Hewitt said [2]. He said this process may take a couple more months to achieve the desired outcome [2].
President Donald Trump expressed a different view of the situation during the same period. Trump said the Iranian leadership is hesitant to engage in an agreement.
"They are afraid to make a deal," Trump said [1].
The discussion centers on whether the U.S. can force a diplomatic breakthrough through economic pressure alone, or if military escalation is the only remaining lever. Hewitt's caution implies that an overly optimistic timeline could lead to costly strategic errors if the administration miscalculates Iran's willingness to bend to U.S. demands [1].
“"Combat operations will resume to bring Iran to a successful conclusion."”
The disagreement between the administration's optimism and Hewitt's caution reflects a broader debate over 'maximum pressure' campaigns. If the U.S. determines that diplomatic channels are exhausted, the shift back to combat operations suggests a transition from economic warfare to kinetic action to achieve regional security goals.
