Keith Kellogg, a retired lieutenant general and senior adviser to former President Donald Trump's 2024 campaign, has publicly advocated for a significant shift in U.S. policy toward Iran. In an interview with the Financial Times, Kellogg stated the U.S. should "declare victory and get out" of Iran, arguing that the current strategy of maximum pressure has failed to curb Tehran's nuclear ambitions or regional influence.
Kellogg's comments, made in March 2026, outline a potential foreign policy direction for a second Trump administration. He suggested that the U.S. should instead focus on building a stronger regional alliance, including Israel and Arab states, to contain Iran, rather than pursuing direct confrontation or regime change.
The adviser's stance represents a notable divergence from decades of bipartisan U.S. policy focused on isolating Iran. His proposal to withdraw from the conflict implies accepting the current Iranian regime's hold on power while attempting to neutralize its threat through external containment, a strategy that has drawn criticism from foreign policy hawks.
These remarks come amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East and as the 2024 U.S. presidential election cycle influences policy debates. Kellogg's views are seen as indicative of the strategic recalibration being considered within Trump's circle, though they do not constitute an official campaign platform.
