00:00We have the greatest military in the world, not even a contest and think of it, they have
00:06no Navy, they have no Air Force, everything's been moved out, they have no anti-aircraft
00:12equipment, they have no radar, I don't know how much longer they can survive.
00:16I think they cannot survive any longer.
00:18I don't know how much longer they can go because they've been hit very hard.
00:24So the President with Maria Bartiromo, Maria is going to join us in about 10 minutes, much
00:27more interview from the White House yesterday afternoon, meanwhile here we go, CENTCOM,
00:32Brad Cooper is the commander of CENTCOM, sent out the statement about the blockade, says
00:37the blockade of Iranian ports has been fully implemented as US forces maintain maritime superiority
00:43in the Middle East.
00:44This is the big breaking news right now that is happening, yes.
00:49Here's the key line, an estimated 90% of Iran's economy is fueled by international trade by
00:56the sea and that's the whole purpose of this blockade, they want to starve the regime.
01:0290%, can you fathom it, 90, 90, it means the whole economy is by this.
01:09...of economic benefit inside the country of Iran.
01:12Move that to Persian Gulf, we have six dots on the screen here, there are more ports for Iran,
01:18but these are six of the main ones and these are the ones that are targeted.
01:21This one's up here near Basra, Iraq, this near Karg Island, this here Bandar Abbas and this one here
01:27on the Gulf of Oman, which is important too because that's where the US Navy is saying they're waiting
01:32and watching and that's where they will interdict any ship that goes in or out of an Iranian port,
01:38all right? Other vessels...
01:40Yes, US Navy ships are right here at the Gulf of Oman.
01:45...can go in other Gulf nations, it's the Iranian ports that are important here and those are marked here in
01:50red.
01:50Now, this is what the Iranians have been saying for some time.
01:54They told the international community don't go in this area and this area is marked by this box here
02:00and the Iranians have said that they mined the area.
02:03They couldn't tell us where the mines were, they couldn't tell us how many mines were out there.
02:07They are just saying they have mines in there so the only way to go inside is from right here
02:14where the Iranian defense forces are planted.
02:17The US thinks that the Iranians may have been lying about this the entire time.
02:22Entire time.
02:22So again, they sent these destroyers through this area off the east coast here of Oman to prove
02:28whether or not there are any mines out there. In the meantime, the Iranians
02:32want all these ships to pass along their islands closer to the Iranian territory so they can exact
02:38Chinese Yuan and cryptocurrency, by the way.
02:42Oh, crypto, they're using crypto.
02:44Just about two hours ago, there was a Curacao flagship that did cross.
02:48It went through the Iranian island.
02:50Let me clear this and go back one.
02:52Okay, okay, let's see.
02:52But it was bound apparently for Basra, Iraq.
02:55So, technically that would...
02:57So, it went through right here and then went directly to this last one.
03:01All right.
03:09Now, right now, day three of US blockade of Iranian ports.
03:15...substantial on the screen.
03:16Big, big numbers.
03:17Big numbers right here.
03:18Big number C.
03:19We'll talk about that.
03:21The types of assets involved.
03:23You got the US aircraft carriers.
03:25These are just beasts on the open ocean here.
03:27Amphibious assault ships.
03:29You've got destroyers in the area as well.
03:31Here's an F-15 that's just part of the strike force.
03:34Okay, okay.
03:35F-35s as well.
03:36Yes, the unmanned aircraft that we talked about.
03:38Yes, this aircraft got no man inside it.
03:41The drones.
03:42You got refueling aircraft that can stay up in the air 24 hours a day sometimes.
03:47And also the surveillance aircraft that can do something very similar.
03:51So, the force is there.
03:53And they are packed and stacked in that part of the world.
03:56Retired Vice Admiral Robert Harward back with us.
03:59Former Deputy Commander of US Senate.
04:01Hello.
04:01Nice to have you right here.
04:03Sir, nice to see you and good morning to you.
04:06We have played our card with the blockade.
04:09Very well.
04:09What card do Iranians have now, if any?
04:13Well, Bill, we've played one card.
04:15We've got a lot more cards in the deck.
04:17And you've got to go back to the negotiations.
04:19It started there.
04:20When the Vice President gave them a deadline, they didn't make it.
04:23We walked out.
04:23So, the pressure started there.
04:25Now, implementing the blockade, economically choking them, is additional blockade.
04:28Pressure on them.
04:29So, now they're looking.
04:30Okay, can we get our surrogates more involved?
04:33As you've seen Hezbollah ramping up.
04:34No way.
04:35No, you never get it.
04:37And there's Hezbollah that you all have Iranians.
04:40That is never help you win the war.
04:43And the Israelis responding to that.
04:45Can they talk to the Houthis?
04:47And, hey, can you deal with the Bab al-Mandeb?
04:48Hey, Hamas, can you do more in Gaza?
04:50So, that's one option available to them.
04:52Okay.
04:52Maybe go back and...
04:53Yeah, you mentioned the Vice President.
04:54Didn't mean to jump on there?
04:55I thought you were done here.
04:56Here he was last night in Athens, Georgia.
04:57Okay, let's listen to the Vice President.
05:00Right now, the ceasefire is holding.
05:02And what you're seeing is, what the President wants to make...
05:05He doesn't want to make like a small deal.
05:06He wants to make the grand bargain.
05:08And what he's basically offering to Iran is very simple.
05:09And frankly, it's something that no President has, I think, has had the ability to offer.
05:13He said that if you're willing to act like a normal country,
05:15we are willing to treat you economically like a normal country.
05:18He doesn't want a small deal.
05:18Yes, just the point is that act like a normal country and everything will be very, very fine.
05:27Maybe he can get that deal.
05:28But maybe he's dealing with the individuals who make decisions in Iran to be more hard-line...
05:33Yes, it is.
05:34...than those that have already been killed.
05:36What about that possibility?
05:37Yes.
05:38Well, I think the pressure is across the board.
05:39The political spectrum, the military leaders, the Ayatollahs, and the IRGC.
05:43So, yes, they're putting pressure on all that and who is in charge, which is...
05:46This is how many U.S. military assets we have in the Middle East.
05:51We are fully ready for anything that can happen.
05:54It's still not clear internally, much less externally.
05:57So, I think the strategy is very sound and we have additional tools in our kit to use against them.
06:02The Iranians are running out of options.
06:04So, this is really moving in the right direction.
06:07I think, ultimately, as the President started this all, it was all about the people of Iran.
06:11He said, hey, we're coming to your help.
06:12Help is on the way.
06:13And this plays out significantly on that part of the deal.
06:15The Iranian people go without power.
06:17They go without water.
06:18The pressure that creates on the regime will drop...
06:20This is a very big move we have right now.
06:24This is the moment we know that we are winning.
06:27...drive them ultimately to the negotiating table.
06:30And if not that, a regime change.
06:33Wall Street Journal editorial board.
06:34Iran's regime has tried to make this war all about economics.
06:37Now it's getting its wish.
06:38The economic damage to the regime is immediate.
06:39And the pain will grow the longer the blockade is sustained.
06:42This is from the editorial board.
06:45Wall Street Journal opinion we have.
06:47So, we have additional tools here in that kit box, right?
06:50What would be number one on that list, Admiral?
06:52Well, you can tighten this even more significantly.
06:55As you're seeing traffic, there are still boats and stuff near Abaddon, near Bandar Abbas.
06:59Maybe you extend the blockade down to that most tactical level.
07:03There will be no ships allowed in the ports to stay or even come and go.
07:06So, you can close this blockade even...
07:08This is U.S. blockade, third-town, Iranian sea trade.
07:13And don't forget, we went ashore in Iran.
07:16We did a raid.
07:17Maybe you want to raid again somewhere in the country to illustrate to the people
07:20how vulnerable the IRGC is.
07:22So, there's still a power...
07:23IRGC is very vulnerable right now because they are not even going steps further.
07:30Nothing.
07:30There's a buffer of tools that if they need to increase the pressure and get the strategy implemented
07:35to bring them to the table to meet those end objectives.
07:37The President and his team have a lot of options on the table,
07:40and they're just going to continue to crank this up on the Iranian regime.
07:42The raid you're referring to was the rescue of that pilot.
07:45Yes, yes.
07:45This is what it is, guys.
07:47This is what...
07:49...nays ago, I think, now on the calendar.
07:50Robert Harward, you're terrific.
07:51Thanks for coming back, Vice Admiral.
07:53Thank you, man.
07:54This is what it is.
07:55Let me know your comments.
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