President Trump has made it pretty clear on multiple occasions that he is not going to be bound by political pressure, whether it's midterms or otherwise. And General Jack Keene, a Fox News contributor who is often weighing in on these things with great insight, is talking about the Wall Street Journal article that we have all read and shocked to see about Iran possibly having a secret plan to escalate the war here is what General Keene said. Cut 20, listen. I take that article at face value because I sense myself as we get closer to the midterms, and they do focus on what's happening in the United States like a laser beam, to be frank about it. They paid lots of attention to it because they fundamentally understand war is about a test of wills, and they want to weaken.
the administration in terms of the political support and resolve of the American people here.
So if they can demonstrate as we get closer to the midterms that the war isn't being managed properly because Iran is taking offensive action, Then they believe, in their minds, there's a good chance that the Democrats will take control and maybe stop funding the war. That was General Jack Keene. We're lucky now to have another very insightful former retired Navy Vice Admiral Robert Harward joining us now. Vice Admiral, thank you for joining us. You just heard your colleague, General Keene, talking about Iran's plan, what they intend to do.
We did see in the last 24 hours Iran striking a couple of missile strikes on the UAE. What's your read on it, sir? We got Mexican standoff here. The President's convinced with the economic pressure he's putting on our ability to move oil while limited through the Straits and continue to move commerce, he thinks he's in the position of strength. The Iranians are focused on the midterms, as Jinlapine so eloquently stated, but The president's go way through that.
He believes the pressure he's putting on Iran has a bigger impact on them internally.
So that's where we are in this Mexican standoff. And as the article indicated, Iran may be preparing to do some mass casualty events, something that can help influence the elections. But the President sees that as additional opportunities to eliminate any of their offensive power. And we know we've taken out that dramatically. 80, 90% of it has been eradicated.
So they've got to be able to. Hit a boat every now and then, hit a target, show they still have some power and something to support their position, be it in negotiations. I think the president's passed negotiations, and it's just capitulation at this point. It's a great. Insight by Saddam Roll, and we have seen that Iran can actually hit some targets.
We just lost two service members when they struck Muafak air base in Jordan. But A couple of questions for you here. One, Uh is do you believe that if this is the secret plane to escalate is actually forthcoming, can they do it without really getting the Houthis and Hezbollah and their proxies fully engaged in it?
Well, I think you've highlighted the dilemma Iran is in right now. Look, Hezbollah is under incredible pressure. They're losing funding because Iran doesn't have any money left anymore. The government of Lebanon is negotiating with Israel to try to disarm Hezbollah. The Houthis are coming under attack because many have weighed in with the Saudis and will support them should the Houthis continue to challenge the Bab al-Mandat.
So you're seeing across the board Iran, its surrogates, its ability to project power being eradicated. And I believe at the end of the day, that's the end state the president's looking for. It's not just opening commerce through the straits. It's not just about eradicating their nuclear program, but it's ensuring they cannot support those circuits. They cannot launch missiles and drones.
So you're slowly seeing all of that taking off the table, backed by this financial strangulation of Iran. And you'll see more and more political power brought to bear here. Can we get partner nations such as Pakistan, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Turkey to help shut down borders? Can we shut down their airspace? There's a lot of steps still that the president could pull, and I think it's going in the right direction at this.
And I support his strategy. I feel like I'm beating a dead horse here when I talk about this, but it can't not be talked about, which is the fact that Iran is currently doing what they have consistently done for decades with their tactics.
So are we to be surprised that this is how they're behaving now? No, not at all. It's been very consistent, and you said throughout their history. What's different is you have a president who is willing to hit them, a president who now gave them an off-ramp, and they didn't take it. And they never would because it's an existential threat to them.
So I think the state of the game is completely different. The table's been turned where time was always on Iran's behalf.
Now time is a real enemy to them. They've got to get their commerce back on step. And over the long term, this is really what's going to change the internal dynamics of Iran. And everyone recognizes that. At the end of the day, if there's not a government in Iran who renounces the policies and programs they've had for the last four decades, then you're not going to have an enduring solution.
Everyone recognizes that. This strategy that the president using whole of government, be it diplomatic, be it financial, military pressure to force them. And the regime into a position where they face an existential threat, not only externally, but internally, is a sound strategy. And I think it's moving with the speed of relevancy that Iran has to respond to now, not the U.S. Did you know Fox News has a wine shop?
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Quantities are limited, so visit FoxNewsWineshop.com today. And when you talk about an existential threat, certainly economically, Iran has never faced anything like this. As you point out, President Trump is the first president, mind you, in an election year that had The guts and the, you know, backbone to actually take them on and, you know. While we're trying to figure out what happens militarily, you're spot on because Operation Epic Fury is the military operation that began, but Operation Economic Fury that Secretary Besson and others are bringing is strangling economically that country. But you also give President Trump some credit for he has consistently made it very clear, even if the Iranians are hard of hearing on the messaging about the denuclearization.
And he just again, excuse me, I believe it was on Monday, talked a little bit about his main goal here. This is cut 19. Listen to this, Admiral. Are you any closer today to reaching a final deal to end Iran's nuclear hospital?
Well, they want to make a deal, but they're not going to make the kind of a deal that I feel is necessary. Look, we're in there for one reason. Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. You understand that. Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, and they won't have a nuclear weapon.
Okay. And that goal, that central issue, straight affords set aside for a moment, that stands to benefit not only the US security, but also and particularly all of the Gulf allies around there. Your thoughts. It's beyond that. It's not just the goal.
This is important to everyone for two very strategic reasons. First and foremost, the evil empire. Iran somewhat is a surrogate of China and Russia. 90% of Iran's oil that they're able to get out in the market, and thank goodness now they're unable to do that, went to China. It was a great support of So you're f uh of China and their financial objectives, their need for energy.
So one, you're battling that. You're you're battling the the the evil empire so forth. And if you're able to take Iran, a country of $95 million and bring them into the global economy, bring them into commercialization, bring them into the markets, you change the dynamics for everyone. And then second, the Israeli revolution and what they've done with their ideology to destroy the region, vis-a-vis Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen. with footholds throughout Europe.
So the president knows on both of those levels how important this is and what the stakes at play is. And I think he has a strategy now to achieve those objectives. We've just got to let it play out. And again, Iran has very few options left on the table right now. They can do a few strikes.
They can try to continue to support their surrogates, but both those are unable to sustain themselves without the resources they've had the last four or five decades. Decades. And that's why this strategy is so impactful. And I'm sure we'll meet those objectives top of the list of, as you've said, the nuclear program. They will not be able to constitute it.
At the end of the day, we will get control of that material. There's no doubt about it on those objectives. And that will be unbelievably history-making in and of itself. I want to, one last thing, Vice Admiral, because you're so great on this stuff, such good insight. There was one moment that this week sort of, I guess, gave us a bit of a pause saying, what's that about?
And it was when President Trump was talking about he would bomb the S out of Oman, threatening actually Oman. One of your fellow admirals, Mark Montgomery, reacting to that on America's newsroom. Listen to this. I want to get your reaction. Cut 24.
The two countries can speak to each other. They should not make some kind of deal where they control the straight of Hormuz or they toll it. I'm not sure Oman is a attempting to do that. Oman is a long-term ally or partner of the United States. I think that they've been helpful for us in creating a southern transit, a very southern transit scheme through their waters over the last four months.
But the President, I think his warning was overdone, but the President was attempting to remind them that they should adhere to international law when having any discussions with Iran.
So obviously, we don't want Oman to make a bilateral direct deal with Iran. President may be reminding Oman of their strongest ally being the U. S. But real quick, what's your read on it? I think Mark and you've got it about right.
Look. This is important to everyone, and this is going to come down to that political power. We don't want anyone supporting Iran or taking their position. It's counter to our position.
So I think the president was just reinforcing that with Aman. You're either part of the solution or you're part of the problem. You can't be both.
So let's stay tied together. Let's speak with one voice and let's solve this problem for the long haul, not just for Oman, but for UAE, for Saudi, for Qatar, for Bahrain, and everyone else in the region and beyond.
So I think that's exactly what the president was talking about. I think market the point right on. And to add to that, on the back end of that would be perhaps an expansion of the Abraham Accords. And that would certainly be, I think, legacy defining for President Trump. Vice Admiral Robert Harward, great insight.
Thank you for joining us on the Brian Kilmead Show. As always, we love having you. Thanks. Good to be with you. Did you know Fox News has a wine shop?
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Quantities are limited, so visit FoxNewswineshop.com today.
