Mark Esper says Iran exploits conflicts despite Trump threats

Former U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Sunday that Iran is growing bolder because it sees President Donald Trump’s threats as empty, warning that Tehran is exploiting the war in Gaza and regional chaos to push its agenda. Speaking on CBS’s “Face the Nation,” Esper said, “Clearly the Iranians have figured this out. They are not reacting to these threats, and they are taking very strategic positions with regard to the conflict.”

The warning comes as Iran-backed groups across the Middle East have stepped up attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria, as well as on commercial shipping in the Red Sea. Since October 7, when Hamas launched its deadly attack on Israel, Iran has provided military support to its proxies while avoiding direct confrontation with the U.S. or Israel. Esper argued that Trump’s repeated threats to strike Iran—most notably in 2019 and 2020—have not deterred Tehran, instead convincing it that America lacks the will to follow through.

Esper’s comments follow reports that Iran has supplied advanced drones and missiles to groups like Yemen’s Houthis and Lebanon’s Hezbollah, increasing their firepower. U.S. officials say Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has also expanded its influence in Syria and Iraq, where militia attacks on American bases have surged this year. According to the Pentagon, there have been over 150 drone and rocket attacks on U.S. troops in the region since October, injuring dozens.

What happens next could hinge on whether Trump or the Biden administration takes a tougher stance—or if Iran pushes further. Esper suggested that without a credible military threat, Iran will keep testing American resolve. His remarks echo concerns from regional allies like Israel and Saudi Arabia, which worry that Iran sees the U.S. as distracted and hesitant. The White House has so far relied on diplomacy and targeted strikes, but Esper’s warning signals that time may be running out for a softer approach to work.