Manouchehr Mottaki, Iran’s former foreign minister and a current member of parliament, has proposed attacking an American military base, capturing 100 U.S. personnel, and transporting them to Iran. The statement was not an operational order, but it exposed Tehran’s theory of victory: use American hostages to seize control of American decision-making.

President Donald Trump has already resumed strikes and reimposed a naval blockade after renewed Iranian attacks on commercial shipping and American positions. If Iran attempts a mass abduction, another limited round of bombing would be insufficient. Tehran would be changing the purpose of the war, and Washington should change its objective in return.