Taylor Hathorn, a visiting fellow at Independent Women, joined NTD to discuss the White House’s update on U.S. negotiations with Iran. That included the remaining elements of the regime becoming increasingly eager to end the destruction and negotiate, while they still can; the Iranian regime’s willingness to let some ships pass through the Strait of Hormuz, which indicates the new leaders have some degree of legitimacy; and the Strait of Hormuz continuing to be a strong bargaining chip for Iran.
Hathorn also discussed President Donald Trump’s consistent assertion that Operation Epic Fury was preemptive and was aimed at preventing American deaths and stopping Iran from building nuclear weapons.
She also discussed the White House’s reiteration on Monday of the U.S. military’s destruction of Iran’s navy and power projection capabilities, as well as the regime’s combat effectiveness.
Hathorn also discussed how Iran’s military degradation could prevent it from rearming, the remaining threats in the Strait of Hormuz, and Turkey being a major player in the war in Iran. Turkey has the second-largest army in NATO after the United States, and has met many of the defense spending goals promoted by President Trump.
However, Hathorn also discussed Turkey’s sympathetic approach toward Iran, how it could assist Iran or another U.S. adversary in the future, and whether Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s history of courting radical Islamists could lead to a more militant theocratic government like in Iran.