GOP Sen. Johnson Says Iran Conflict Will Be 'Long-Term Project'

Talks between U.S. and Iran stall over nuclear weapon demands and control of Strait of Hormuz.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 4:26pm

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A dynamic, abstract painting depicting the Strait of Hormuz in fractured, overlapping geometric shapes and waves of fiery red, orange, and yellow colors, conveying the escalating tensions and disruption to global oil flows.As the U.S. and Iran remain at odds over control of the vital Strait of Hormuz, the prospect of a long-term conflict looms large.Washington Today

Republican Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin said he was not surprised that recent peace talks between the U.S. and Iran failed, stating that securing U.S. goals in Iran will be a 'long-term project' due to the entrenched power of the Iranian regime. Johnson emphasized the need to completely 'defang' the Iranian government, including removing their enriched uranium stockpile, though he does not believe this will require ground troops.

Why it matters

The breakdown of negotiations between the U.S. and Iran raises concerns about the potential for further escalation of the long-standing conflict, with implications for global oil prices and stability in the Middle East region.

The details

The peace talks in Islamabad ended over the weekend after Vice President JD Vance said Iran would not agree to forgo developing a nuclear weapon, a key demand from the U.S. administration. President Trump had previously stated he did not care if a deal was reached, saying the U.S. would 'win either way.' However, control over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil chokepoint, remains a major sticking point, with Iran blockading the strait and causing spikes in global oil prices.

  • The peace talks in Islamabad ended over the weekend of April 12-13, 2026.
  • On April 12, 2026, Sen. Ron Johnson appeared on ABC News' 'This Week' to discuss the failed negotiations.

The players

Sen. Ron Johnson

A Republican senator from Wisconsin who said securing U.S. goals in Iran will be a 'long-term project' due to the entrenched power of the Iranian regime.

President Donald Trump

The U.S. president who previously stated he did not care if a deal was reached with Iran, saying the U.S. would 'win either way.'

Vice President JD Vance

The U.S. vice president who said Iran would not agree to forgo developing a nuclear weapon, a key demand from the U.S. administration.

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What they’re saying

“I'm not surprised at all. The ayatollahs, even though they have been so degraded in terms of their capabilities, nobody thought this would be easy. They've been preparing for this for 47 years.”

— Sen. Ron Johnson, Republican Senator from Wisconsin

“We will not have won until we have completely defanged the Iranian regime. There's multiple ways of potentially doing it. Short-term, long-term there are multiple avenues we can approach here. But we have not yet finished the job.”

— Sen. Ron Johnson, Republican Senator from Wisconsin

What’s next

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The takeaway

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