Sacks, who serves as the White House adviser on artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency under President Donald Trump, made the remarks during the “All-In Podcast” released on Friday.
“We’ve degraded Iranian capabilities massively,” Sacks said. “This is a good time to declare victory and get out.”
The venture capitalist and former PayPal executive said Washington should look for a negotiated “off-ramp” to prevent a prolonged regional conflict.
“I agree that we should try to find the off-ramp,” he said. “If escalation doesn’t lead anywhere good, then you have to think about how you de-escalate.”
Read: Trump claims massive US strikes destroy military targets on Iran’s Kharg Island
Sacks warned that some factions in Washington, particularly within the Republican Party, are pushing for further escalation against Iran, which he said could lead to wider regional fallout.
He outlined a scenario in which Tehran could retaliate by targeting oil infrastructure in Gulf states and attacking desalination plants that supply drinking water across the region.
“I think it’s something like 100 million people on the Arabian Peninsula that get their water from desal,” Sacks said, warning that such attacks could trigger severe humanitarian and economic disruption.
He also cautioned that a prolonged conflict could strain the air defence systems of Israel and potentially increase the risk of broader escalation, including the possibility of nuclear confrontation.
Sacks’ remarks came shortly before President Trump announced a major US bombing raid on Iran’s Kharg Island, one of the country’s key oil export facilities.
Trump said US forces had “obliterated” military targets on the island, which handles roughly 90% of Iran’s crude oil exports.
According to Iranian officials, more than 1,300 people have been killed in Iran since the conflict began, while Israeli authorities say 12 people have died in Iran-linked attacks on Israel. The US military has reported the deaths of seven American service members during the fighting.
Despite intensifying military actions, Sacks said Washington should weigh whether continued escalation would advance US strategic interests or risk widening the conflict across the Middle East.
Read More: With Iran war exit elusive, Trump aides vie to affect outcome
Following that, on the social media platform X, the White House posted a screenshot from Trump’s Truth Social account, which said that the United States is “destroying the terrorist regime of Iran, militarily, economically,” while warning that Tehran still has a chance to avoid further destruction by agreeing to peace. The post added that the situation could worsen if Iran refuses to de-escalate, signalling Washington’s willingness to continue pressure while leaving the door open for negotiations.
“We are totally destroying the terrorist regime of Iran, militarily, economically, and otherwise, yet, if you read the Failing New York Times, you would incorrectly think that we are not winning. Iran’s Navy is gone, their Air Force is no longer…” – President Donald J. Trump pic.twitter.com/iZKd6N1J70
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 13, 2026
The war between the United States, Israel and Iran began on February 28, 2026, when Washington and Tel Aviv launched coordinated airstrikes on multiple Iranian military and strategic sites. The opening strikes killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei along with several senior military officials, triggering a sharp escalation in the region.
In response, Iran launched missile and drone attacks against Israel, US military bases and allied targets across the Middle East, marking the start of a broader regional conflict that has raised fears of further escalation and disruption to global energy supplies.