Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and former Trump National Security Adviser John Bolton had some harsh words for the current administration's strategy on Iran on CNN Thursday.
"I want to play an exchange or one part of an exchange," said anchor John Berman. "I want to read you something else. And this has to do with Iran apparently boarding and seizing, taking possession of vessels in or near the Strait of Hormuz. This is how the White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, explained it."
Asked by a Fox reporter whether that seizure is a "violation of the ceasefire," Leavitt replied, "No, because these were not U.S. ships. These were not israeli ships. These were two international vessels. And for the American media, who is sort of blowing this out of proportion to discredit the president's facts, that he has completely obliterated Iran's conventional navy. These two ships were taken by speedy gunboats. Iran has gone from having the most lethal navy in the Middle East to now acting like a bunch of pirates. They don't have control over the Strait."
"So she said, talking about it is blowing it out of proportion," said Berman. "But it was President Trump in a Truth Social not too long ago who said any Iranian who fires on us or at peaceful vessels will be blown to hell. So is it blowing it out of proportion or is it blown to hell? Which one do you think it is, Ambassador?"
"Well, look, I think her comment was utterly incoherent," said Bolton. "Not that I expect anything any different. I mean, what if those ships were Saudi? Or what if they were Emirati or Kuwaiti or British or German? I mean, who knows, really, what the ship — where the ships were flagged. But but the real point is if you're going to have a ceasefire, that that is not the kind of conduct we expect from from the adversary."
"Now, Trump has also kept our blockade in place," he continued. "And in fact, I think quite correctly, extended it to a worldwide basis, which means the ceasefire itself is incoherent. And I'm afraid that's also a pretty good description at the moment of the direction of U.S. policy."
"I think the president's lost," Bolton added. "I don't think he knows what to do next."
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