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Well, joining me here in the studio is retired US General Mark Kimmitt. He's also a former Assistant Secretary of State for Political and Military Affairs. Thanks for coming in. Certainly. So, a few hours ago we heard Pete Hegseth call on Iran to quote let innocent ships pass freely. How do you think Washington is likely to see this Iranian announcement of a new mechanism for passage? Will they see it something positive or an Iranian attempt to secure its control over the Strait of Hormuz? Well, this is not a new announcement. They've set up what they call a new security architecture in the Gulf. As you saw in the map, they've now drawn
lines taking over in their view both Omani and UAE territorial waters. They will also force concessions and payments out of these ships. And while many of the large oil ships can probably afford this and the large oil companies can afford this, it sets just a horrible precedent worldwide. What's next? The Straits of Malacca? We're going to turn that into a toll booth? Gibraltar? Will that be a toll booth? The English Channel? So, I don't think the world is going to stand for it. Mhm. Of course, you know, Iranians would say has Donald Trump not set the horrible precedent by saying things like on April the 6th uh what I would like to do, take the oil because it's there for the taking. There's not a thing they can do
about it. Um April 7th, he went on to threaten an entire civilization with death if they didn't do what he wanted them to do. Is that not also setting a horrible precedent of threatening to take people's oil and resources unless they do what they what he wants them to do? Look, over the years both sides have been a little bit flamboyant with their talks. This is more than a little bit flamboyant though. This what Amnesty International calls threatening may amount to threatening to commit genocide. And how many times has Iran said we are going to exterminate Israel? We're going to burn Israel. We're going to drop our weapons, special weapons on Israel. So, I think both sides have um
been pretty loose with their rhetoric. Of course, the only difference is it's the United States that's condemned, not Iran. But the US has in this case engaged in a war that 25 UN special experts have labeled as unlawful, right? So, this is this has gone beyond rhetoric. Can the US credibly claim it is the policeman that is trying to enforce international law when credible UN figures say it's violating the law by starting this war? Well, first of all, let's let's be very careful. You I can find 25 guys that say John F. Kennedy was assassinated by Martians. Um These are UN experts. The Secretary General March the 4th February 28th framed it as a violation of uh the UN Charter. Is he also
I mean, he's not a crazy guy who's who's claiming Martians, right? It right, but that's the same um UN Secretary General that condemned Iran for blocking the Strait of Hormuz. As we get back to the issue of the Strait of Hormuz, it's important to understand that no country, no international organization, the UN have all condemned the Iranian action. So, while 25 experts may say that uh this situation is understandable, find me a country that is agreeing with the Strait of Hormuz actions being taken by the Iranians. But well that's not the question though now. Iranian actions, I'm asking about the US actions and if they are being even by their own some of their own allies like the Spanish Defense Minister who said the US actions in it in trying to
impose a blockade in starting a war called it senseless on March the 31st and several times said the US and Israel cannot impose cannot decide what kind of peace or rules there are in the world. Are they wrong as well? For the last 46 years [clears throat] everyone in Iran has said death to America. That's their policy. We will not let them develop a nuclear weapon to aid them in bringing death to America. Full stop. Okay, we'll have to leave it there. Thank you so much. Uh Certainly. Uh General Mark Kimmitt, former Assistant Secretary for Political and Military Affairs. Thank you so much for coming in.
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