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U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz made plain what every serious American already knows: the United States Navy has the capability to “lock down” the Strait of Hormuz if Iran’s negotiating posture continues to threaten global commerce and energy security. Waltz’s blunt assessment should reassure patriots that our military remains the decisive instrument of national policy when diplomacy fails.
President Trump’s decision to impose a naval blockade and keep maximum pressure on Tehran has forced the regime to think twice about its belligerence, and it’s exactly the sort of tough-minded strategy that keeps enemies on their heels. The administration’s public warnings and naval posture sent a clear message that America will not be blackmailed by a theocratic regime sitting on a chokepoint.
Waltz and other administration officials have repeatedly said that “all options are on the table,” including targeted strikes on Iran’s infrastructure should Tehran refuse to reopen the shipping lanes — a grim but necessary deterrent. That clarity of purpose is what prevented further escalation last month and what will compel Tehran to choose negotiation over chaos.
The Pentagon has also been authorized to act decisively against asymmetric threats in the water, with orders to neutralize small Iranian boats and mines that endanger international shipping and American sailors. This administration’s willingness to confront hybrid warfare tactics head-on proves we mean what we say, and it signals to allies and adversaries alike that freedom of navigation will be defended.
There have been tentative diplomatic moves — a memorandum of understanding and talks mediated by regional partners — but those talks only work because the U.S. can back them up with strength. Our Gulf partners appreciate zero daylight with American policy, and they understand that negotiations backed by military resolve produce leverage, not surrender.
Make no mistake: Americans should demand that any deal protects our energy security and strips Tehran of its ability to weaponize the Strait. Weak concessions or vague timelines will only invite future crises; what we need is verifiable, enforceable terms and the muscle to enforce them if Iran cheats.
If diplomacy produces a durable opening of the Strait, we will welcome the relief at the pump and the restoration of commerce — but we will not apologize for the pressure that made it possible. To the hardworking men and women who power this country, take heart: your nation is being defended by leaders who understand that peace through strength is not a slogan, it is a policy.
