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See terms. But President Trump's saying that that straight will be opened and Iran will not control it and charge tolls. Joining us now for great insight, Vice Admiral Robert Harward. Admiral, thank you for joining us. You always have such a great insight.
I don't know if you agree with General Keene's sort of take there that Iran thinks that they can control this straight. That's I agree wholeheartedly with my shipmate. He's spot on. The straits are one of their most important elements of power right now. But one thing people are not talking about, and I think fascinating about the president's strategy and somewhat adds to his patience equation, is the financial strangulation of Iran.
They have gone now five months with no revenue from their oil. That's absolutely crippling. The economy is just a disaster. They're in free fall with. Inflation, the ability to feed, the ability to pay their troops.
This is where the presidents really, outside of the military strikes, having the most impact. And I'm surprised, and we don't know because we're not hearing about it. Have we also shut down their land routes? Because that's the only means they have now, moving large quantities of oil, much less getting help and support from Russia or China, who are the recipients, at least China, of the oil. Have we shut down their airspace?
So I think this financial strangulation undermines the regime in ways we really have not calculated or at least talked about at a scale. And those straits, as the general has said, Sure, impacts our economics, but their economics is even more important in this equation. I think that's what's going to ultimately force them to capitulate, not negotiate, but agree to let free flow of commerce move because they need the money so badly. It's an interesting prospect, Admiral. And I don't think a lot of people are talking about the shutting down of land droughts.
You've been a war planner. What would that look like?
Well, first you go out to it politically. Since Pakistan was so hot to help with the negotiations, would they be just as accommodating to shut down their borders flowing into Iran? You go to Azerbaijan, their northern boundaries, and then finally their boundaries on their west with Turkey. You can try to do that and should do that politically first. But if not, Then, military strikes to take out those avenues with overwatch.
We could even put people, boots on the ground in those countries, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Pakistan, with a political accommodation to ensure the flow of commerce is going down.
So, you do additional steps like that. And the financial strangulation of Iran really drives the internal dynamics. When people can't get paid, when they can't eat, they'll be forced to turn on the regime.
So, I'm a big fan of this financial strategy and all the components that can enhance the pain and influence on the regime. It's very, very fascinating. And you're talking about something that no one is talking about that should be. I'm sure in the Pentagon in the Situation Room, they're talking about this, but this is an important thing. I don't know if you saw, Emerald.
I was just looking this morning at various news sites, saw the New York Times had a story about apparently Pakistan. Pakistan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia signed some sort of security pact of sorts. I don't have all the details on that. But does that tell you does that play into a little bit of where you think this could go?
Well, I'd be disappointed and I'm disappointed. Look. Pakistan, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Europe, everyone, everyone knows how bad this regime is, what murderous thugs they are, and the threat they pose to everyone in the region, and how important the straits, much less the nuclear program is.
So I'm disappointed if any of those countries and everyone isn't involved in ensuring the long-term flow of commerce from the straits, nuclear prominence, and the other components, be it funding Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis, as well as missiles, drones, those components of power. At the end of the day, we have to address all of them. And I think for all these countries to come into a political alignment as a coalition against this regime is critical in support of the Iranian people.
So the moral high ground is there for everyone. And it just still remains astonishing to me we can't build that coalition for the long-term ramification. For to security and stability, this represents to everyone, and how they can help with those financial strangulations politically without taking military action. And you talk about that long-term stability. Boy, you can't overstate that because obviously President Trump is looking to build upon the Abraham Accords from his first administration.
And now he is presenting the entire Middle East for a game-changing reset shaping of the situation, going from chaos to commerce, which would benefit everyone and ultimately even a new regime in Iran. Let me ask you about the, let's go to the battlefield because. We seem to be winning. Every time we do something militarily, it is an undeniable success.
However, it has yet to bring Iran to the negotiating table in good faith, or even to bring Iran to their knees. This regime, you have all of these different negotiators from Iran, Galiba, and others, but yet it does seem that the IRGC commander, General Ahmad Vahidi, who was the first original Kudzforce commander, stood out back, as you well know, your history back in the early 90s.
Now, calling the shots an IRGC, it's like the same playbook they've always had, which is to say one thing and do another, and that other is to keep launching whatever missiles they've got left over.
So, the question really is: are we just in a wash, rinse, and repeat cycle where it's time to do something different?
Well, I think you've hit the nail on the head. This is an existential threat to Bahiti, not just externally, but internally. 75 million Iranians would like to rip him to shreds. And so our long-term strategy needs to stay on course. And again, I don't think it's rinse and repeat.
I go back to the effects we've had in the five months this has started and what we can accelerate with those other components be the more financial strangulation the continuing the target so time is in the president's hand and as you said no president was willing to address this president trump was and he has to be saluted for that but At the end of the day, we have to see this through to the end because the ramifications, if we don't, Iran becomes more powerful and more of a threat down Laborude.
So again, you have to drive to a government in Iran that renounces those policies that the Islamic revolution has presented over five decades that they've been unable or unwilling to negotiate or reach any conclusion of because it does present an existential threat. And those are linked together. The existence of the Iranian government is directly linked to their ability to control the straits and present the threat of a nuclear armed state, much less their missiles and drones.
So you have to solve those problems for the long term. And as you said, bring Iran back into the world economy as they were before this regime came to power. You do that. And all the countries in the region who know you have as your long-term results will Come in today, Abraham Accord. We will see that oil move west.
We'll see the Iranian people have a normal life like all their other Arab nations in the regions, because they see that every day now. And they're just befuddled and that they cannot live that same standard of life that All the other Arab nations in the region have.
So, at the end of the day, that's what's going to drive this thing. And that's the focus and end state. We have to clearly articulate work to through political, economic, and military means. Isn't home where we all want to be? Reba here for Realtor.com, the pro's number one most trusted app.
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Over 500,000 new listings every month based on average new for sale and rental listings, February 2024 through January 2025. Hey, it's Ryan Reynolds here from Mint Mobile.
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See terms. I'll add a little bit to President Trump's willingness and courage to not only be the first president to take on Iran, but also the fact that he did it in an election year. That is just phenomenal that a president would risk that. We've heard President Trump say, I'm not going to let the midterms dictate it, but it's worth noting that previous presidents, politicians, they often don't do hard things because they're hard. And very difficult and requires sacrifice.
And the fact that President Trump's doing it in this election year, we're now three months or so from the midterms, it's definitely playing here in the country. You know, General Kane, I have one more soundbite I want to play for you. He is recognizing that Iran is also dialed in into what's happening domestically with us. Listen to this, Cut. I want to get your reaction.
Cut eight. What's driving them in their minds, they believe the priority for the United States is making certain that oil and gas prices stay down and it doesn't affect the midterm elections. Iran has always, through multiple administrations, been dialed in to what is happening in America, what's happening politically, economically in America, and where are the American people. They are completely tuned in to what I just said. And Roll, what do you say?
Just like everything else Jack has said, that is a true statement. That's been the same case since they came to power in seventy nine. But I think what they're underestimating is this President's desire to do what is right. Hold them accountable. Get rid of this regime, and that's what differentiates President Trump from all our previous presidents in this generation and while this regime is at Veneca.
He struck, he He's going to hold them accountable and he's going to meet those objectives, defining his legacy as one of the greatest presidents we have. And so this is more about him as a president and what's important to our country for the long term than just these midterm elections.
So you think that this doesn't, what's happening here with watching what the American people are saying and gas prices that Jack laid out there perfectly, you don't think this shakes President Trump's resolve in any way?
Well, sure. It's an important consideration. He worries and thinks about every day. I think that's the strategy he's employed illustrates that. Look what he did.
We struck, we shut down the straits. Everything went south in the In the economy, so we opened up the straits, allowing the Iranians and all the ships that were trapped in oil to flow to occur.
Well, and the Iranians got a little bit of money back after that. He shut it back down again after that.
So, again, yes, he's balancing this impact internally in the U.S., much less the world economy, with this long-term ramifications that we need.
So, again, that balancing act is one of the things that contributes to his legacy. Vice Admiral Robert Harward, great insight, my friend. As always, it's so great to talk to you. Have a wonderful weekend, my friend. Thanks, Griff.
Good to be with you. Hey, it's Ryan Reynolds here for Mint Mobile.
Now, I was looking for fun ways to tell you that Mint's offer of unlimited premium wireless for $15 a month is back.
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Uh, so there goes my big idea for the commercial. Give it a try at mintmobile.com/slash switch. Up front payment of $45 for three months, $90 for six months, or $180 for a 12-month plan required. $15 per month equivalent. Taxes and fees extra.
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