Today we learned Iran has launched its first military satellite - more proof that Trump's Iran policy just strengthens Iran and causes them to act more aggressively.

1/ It's hard to quickly sum up how disastrous Trump's policy has been, but let me try. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/22/world/middleeast/iran-trump-navy-persian-gulf-satellite.html

2/ In virtually every way, Iran is stronger today in the Middle East, and America is weaker, than 4 years ago.

First, when Trump took office, Iran wasn't shooting at U.S. forces in Iraq. Obama had convinced Iran to send their proxies to war WITH us, in the fight against ISIS.

3/ Now, Iran and their proxies are shooting at U.S. troops on a regular basis. And though Trump told us that the Soleimani killing would deter Iran, attacks on U.S. forces have increased, not decreased, since the Soleimani strike.

4/ Trump blew up the nuclear deal and promised to build a new system of international pressure to force the Iranians into a new, better deal.

Obviously, that failed miserably. Nobody signed up for the new sanctions & Iran restarted their nuclear program. And no new, better deal.

5/ Iran is stronger nearly everywhere they have proxies.

Trump's pullout from Syria empowered Iranian proxy Assad.

Iran and the Yemeni Houthis are closer than ever.

Hezbollah took control in Lebanon.

And Tehran has more influence in Baghdad than ever before.

Disaster.

6/ Trump's policy of diplomatic withdrawal, unilateral economic sanctions, and blind, non-strategic military escalation has done nothing but play into Iran's hands.

They are stronger, We are weaker. And the launch of this satellite is just more proof.