EMET Statement in Support of American & Israeli Actions in Iran

Press Release

February 28, 2026

Contact: Sarah Stern

(202) 601-7422

info@emetonline.org

EMET Statement in Support of American & Israeli Actions in Iran

Early Saturday morning, the United States and Israel began a series of military actions against the Islamic Republic of Iran. EMET proudly supports these measures that ensure long-term security for America, Israel and our shared allies.

The context for these actions must be stressed: They follow decades of Iranian terrorism against the United States, Israel and its neighbors in the Middle East. For 47 years, the evil regime in Tehran committed atrocious terrorist attacks throughout the world that have claimed thousands of lives – from the hostage-taking at the US Embassy in Tehran, through the bombing of the Marine Corps barracks in Beirut, to the attacks against Israeli and Jewish targets in Buenos Aires, and well beyond. In all corners of the world, people have suffered at the hands of the Ayatollahs.

In recent years, emboldened by international legitimacy for its regime and nuclear efforts, Iran has sharply escalated its conduct. On October 7th, 2023, Iran-backed Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas launched the largest massacre of civilians in the land of Israel since biblical times. Other Iranian proxies, such as Lebanese Hezbollah and the Houthi faction in Yemen, have targeted not only Israelis and Americans but made life miserable for the people residing in their countries. Most recently, the Iranian regime brought on a complete collapse of Iran’s civilian economy, and then massacred tens of thousands of Iranians who dared protest against its policies. None have suffered more from the Islamic Republic’s actions – than the Iranian people themselves.

The Ayatollah regime has become an existential threat to entire nations in the Middle East and around the world. Iran’s pursuit of attacks against American targets in the region, and their attempts to pursue attacks on the American homeland, cannot go unanswered. Diplomacy has failed to yield results, simply because the Ayatollah regime is not, and never was, a legitimate partner for true good-faith negotiations. Apocalyptic fundamentalists tend not to act even in their own rational interest, much less that of the world’s.

Over the past several weeks, EMET has stressed repeatedly the core American interests in a secure, stable and peaceful Middle East. We also stressed that it is becoming more and more apparent that this cannot be achieved so long as Ayatollahs continue to post a threat to this vision. Evil cannot be changed, it can only be removed.

EMET is a think tank and policy shop that specializes in the Middle East and its impact on Western civilization.