Former US Defense Secretary Warns Military Option to Reopen Strait of Hormuz Is Highly Difficult
Tehran - BORNA - James Mattis, former U.S. Secretary of Defense, cautioned against the feasibility of a military solution and said the United States must depend on diplomatic efforts to end the crisis.
Speaking at the CERAWeek energy conference, he said: “Imposing this by force will be very difficult. You would need continuous aerial surveillance through satellites and drones around the clock, in addition to the fact that such an operation would take place over a coastline far longer than that of Texas.”
He added: “At some point, we will have to bring in the diplomats. There is a way to succeed, but it must be done through three different tracks: allies, allies, allies.”
Mattis stressed that any retreat from the strait would encourage Iran, stating: “I don’t think we can simply walk away from this situation and say we have won. We are in a difficult position, and I do not see many options ahead.”
He also warned that the U.S. administration would face negative reactions in the upcoming midterm elections in November due to the war in the Middle East, as the conflict is having adverse effects on the financial situation of American citizens.
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