White House technology and crypto adviser David Sacks told the All-In Podcast that the U.S. should "declare victory and get out" of the confrontation with Iran, saying recent strikes have degraded Iran's military. He urged policymakers to find an "off-ramp," such as a ceasefire or negotiated settlement, to avoid further escalation. The remarks follow U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28 and subsequent Iranian and Hezbollah retaliatory strikes, which have unsettled markets and raised oil prices. Reported casualties: Iran 1,300+; Israel 12; U.S. military 7.
White House Tech Adviser David Sacks Urges U.S. To 'Declare Victory And Get Out' Of Iran Conflict
A woman sits outside her destroyed apartment after it was damaged by an airstrike while she was inside, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran, Iran, March 12, 2026. REUTERS/Alaa Al Marjani
WASHINGTON, March 13 (Reuters) — White House technology and crypto adviser David Sacks said on Friday that the United States should "declare victory and get out" of its ongoing confrontation with Iran, a notable public call from a senior figure associated with former President Donald Trump's team for an exit strategy.
Speaking on the All-In Podcast, Sacks argued that recent U.S. strikes have degraded Iran's military capabilities and that now is an appropriate moment to seek a way out of the confrontation. "This is a good time to declare victory and get out," he said, adding that policymakers should pursue an "off-ramp" to prevent further escalation.
"If escalation doesn't lead anywhere good, then you have to think about, well, how do you de-escalate? De-escalation, I think, involves reaching some sort of ceasefire agreement or some sort of negotiated settlement with Iran," Sacks said.
Context
The comments come after strikes attributed to the United States and Israel on Iran on February 28. Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah have since launched retaliatory strikes against Israel and other targets across the region, widening the confrontation and heightening regional tensions.
Impact
The conflict has unsettled global markets and pushed oil prices higher amid investor concern about further escalation. Casualty figures cited by officials vary: Iran's U.N. ambassador has said more than 1,300 people have been killed in Iran in U.S. and Israeli attacks; Israel reports 12 fatalities from Iranian strikes on its territory; and the U.S. military has reported seven of its personnel killed.
Sacks' remarks are notable because they represent a prominent voice tied to the Trump-era administration publicly advocating a negotiated end to the hostilities rather than continued escalation. Debate over how to balance deterrence and de-escalation is likely to continue among U.S. policymakers, allies and regional actors.
(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by William Mallard)
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