WASHINGTON, DC - A Republican congressman voiced skepticism over the prospects of a lasting agreement between the United States and Iran, arguing that meaningful change in Tehran’s leadership and ideology is essential for any deal to succeed.
Speaking to Rudaw's Diyar Kurda on Wednesday, Marlin Stutzman said the chances of resolving longstanding tensions depend heavily on who holds power in Iran and whether the country abandons what he described as an “extreme ideology.”
“It’s going to really depend on who the new leadership of Iran is,” Stutzman said, expressing concern that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) continues to dominate both military operations and negotiations. “Are we going to still have the same extreme ideology in the new leadership? I don’t think that’s going to work in the long run.”
The lawmaker questioned whether recent leadership changes in Tehran reflect any substantive shift in policy toward Washington. He suggested that rhetoric hostile to the United States and Israel remains a major obstacle to diplomacy.
“If it’s going to still come from the same ideology of ‘Death to America’ and ‘Death to Israel,’ it’s not going to work,” he said. “But if there’s leadership that wants to rebuild Iran, give its people freedom, and create an economy that works for everyone, that would be a different path.”
Stutzman also reiterated long-standing US concerns over Iran’s regional activities, accusing Tehran of supporting armed groups such as Palestinian Hamas, Lebanese Hezbollah, and Yemen's Houthis. He argued that ending such support is a prerequisite for any meaningful agreement.
“Iran can’t be sponsoring terrorism,” he said, adding that US policymakers across party lines have for decades viewed Iran as a leading state sponsor of terrorism.
The congressman emphasized the economic dimension of US pressure on Iran, pointing to the country’s reliance on oil exports. He described the Strait of Hormuz as a critical vulnerability for Tehran, noting that disruptions there could significantly impact its revenue.
The United States and Israel launched a preemptive air campaign against Iran on February 28, targeting more than 17,000 sites across the country over six weeks of hostilities before the sides agreed to a Pakistan-mediated ceasefire on April 8. The truce halted fighting for two weeks and paved the way for talks.
While the first round of discussions ended without a final agreement on April 11, Islamabad has in recent days stepped up efforts to host a second round. However, as of the time of writing, those efforts have yet to yield tangible results.
US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he had agreed to extend the two-week ceasefire with Iran at Pakistan’s request, giving Iranian leaders time to submit a “unified proposal” for a potential agreement. The initial truce expired on Wednesday.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said on Thursday that he had instructed the US military to maintain the naval blockade on Iranian ports while remaining “ready and able.”
Calling for unity in Washington, Stutzman criticized partisan divisions over Iran policy.
“Republicans and Democrats have agreed for years on the threat Iran poses,” he said. “This is a big moment, and if we don’t act, the region will continue to be unstable.”
Despite his criticism, Stutzman said the United States does not necessarily need Iran to become an ally, but rather a state that refrains from destabilizing actions.
“They don’t even have to be an ally of the United States,” he said. “We just want leadership that’s not going to continue to attack Israel through proxies. That could be a really positive outcome for everyone if they move away from that extreme ideology.”