The General & The Journalist

Can Trump force open the Strait of Hormuz?

The General & The Journalist

Show Notes

The collapse of the Iran ceasefire has pushed oil prices higher and left Tehran using the Strait of Hormuz as its most powerful leverage. With American casualties rising and roughly a fifth of the world's oil supply at risk, Washington faces a stark choice – keep bombing, attempt to force the strait open or start looking for a way out.

Kirsten Fontenrose, former White House national security advisor, joins The General & The Journalist to assess Trump’s options. Can the US reopen the strait without triggering a wider war? And can Trump pull back before Iran becomes America’s next forever war?

Is a military showdown in the Gulf inevitable? Send in your thoughts to [email protected]

Chapters: 00:00 – Is Iran Trump’s Forever War? 05:22 – Why Iran wants to control the Strait of Hormuz 09:41 – US Troop deaths and growing political pressure on Trump 13:23 – Trump’s Iran Options: Diplomacy, Naval Blockade or Escalation 27:14 – Can the US reopen the Strait? Kirsten Fontenrose’s Six-Month Forecast

Guest: Kirsten Fontenrose, former Senior Director for Gulf Affairs at the National Security Council Hosts: Tom Newton Dunn Producer: Julia Webster Executive producer: Priyanka Deladia Image: Shaun Parkinson, Getty Clips: C-SPAN, US Central Command, Getty

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