Middle East Forum Chief Strategist Jim Hanson spoke with Jessie Watters on FOX News about the U.S. military buildup in the Persian Gulf. They discussed the consequences of stalled diplomacy with Iran, potential military options targeting Iran’s oil exports or leadership, and what different outcomes could mean for the future of the Islamic Republic.
FOX: Jim Hansen is a former U.S. Army Special Forces officer and president of WorldStrat. Jim, the buildup in the Gulf — what do you see happening here?
HANSEN: The military option isn’t just on the table — it’s prepped and ready. What’s being overlooked is that this buildup is a reminder that diplomacy has consequences.
It’s not just formalized lying, formal wear, and a bunch of guys sitting around a pool sipping mint tea and nibbling petit fours. If you jack the president around in negotiations, there’s a penalty. Our pipe hitters are loading their magazines, and the magazines in those bomb bays are full.
There are plenty of ways to make that point. Two of the most interesting involve Kharg Island, where almost all of Iran’s oil exports move through an offshore pipeline — we could take that out or capture it. Or there’s the bigger question: do we go after the ayatollah himself?
We got Maduro. You could break out the discombobulator and try again. A first strike on the oil export terminal would devastate Iran economically and hurt China, its biggest customer.
FOX: But going in like Maduro — how risky is that? We’re not talking about something in our hemisphere. This is halfway around the world.
HANSEN: It would be extremely risky. Everyone remembers we had a bad mission in Iran once before. That’s a long shot.
That said, the Israelis could help. We have allies in the region, and we have a lot of assets already positioned. It could happen.
The other thing to pay attention to is what outcome we want. Is this just about stopping nuclear ambitions, or is it saying the expiration date on the Islamic Republic has arrived and it’s time for new leadership?
What happens next if the ayatollah is removed? Does it look like Venezuela, where a number two steps up and becomes more cooperative? There have been discussions with opposition groups about which regime figures might remain temporarily and oversee a referendum so the Iranian people can choose their leadership.
You’d have to remove the ayatollah and much of the IRGC leadership. But wouldn’t it be something if the people of Iran finally got a chance to choose leaders who aren’t bent on destruction? That would be a blessing.
There’s a lot happening. This is a crazy time to be alive.
FOX: Jim, good to see you as always. Thank you.
