1/15 President Trump is the first American president to come to the rescue of the Iranian people and stand against this tyranny. That takes courage and historic vision.

What comes next can't be worse than the Islamic Republic. Believe me, I've lived there, and then witnessed firsthand while serving in the U.S. government how this regime destroyed this country, murdered, suppressed, and forced out tens of millions of generations of talented Iranians.

As a transition away from the brutal regime is taking shape, here is a key issue that needs quick attention: Targeted, phased, and strategic sanctions relief will be essential to empower a democratic transitional government in Iran, one that can deliver stability, national unity, and territorial integrity. 2/15 Time is the critical factor. A transition government will have 100–180 days to prove it can govern. Iraq, Libya, and Syria all show what happens when regime change comes without economic planning.

U.S. and E.U. economic sanctions relief and access to funds are necessary for a transitional government to pay civil servants, finance reconstruction, and prevent a power vacuum, including separatism among ethnic groups.