Former Navy SEAL Warns Hormuz Blockade ‘Critically Important’ as Trump Seeks Iran Deal

As President Donald Trump expresses optimism about reaching a nuclear deal with Iran and extends the U.S. economic blockade, former Navy SEAL Jason Redman has warned that maintaining pressure on the Strait of Hormuz is “critically important,” cautioning against any short-term political compromises that could jeopardize long-term security.

President Trump has stated he is confident Iran will soon agree to end the war, vowing that the United States will ensure a free flow of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz “one way or the other.” The administration is also extending the economic blockade on Iran.

In an interview, Redman acknowledged the political pressures facing the president, including upcoming midterms and rising gas prices. “I really hope his administration holds the line on this,” Redman said, calling the Iranian regime “notorious liars.” He pointed to recent incidents where Iran was “caught in multiple lies,” including denying that they fired on a U.S. ship and the UAE. “This regime will do anything they can to stay in power,” he added.

Redman expressed skepticism about Iran’s negotiating tactics, noting that Iran “likes to lie and delay and delay and delay to stay in power.” He questioned whether any deal would stop Iranian uranium enrichment for nuclear bombs for 12 to 15 years and noted a provision requiring Iran to hand over its uranium stockpile to another nation, with no indication of which nation that would be.

While acknowledging that President Trump is “a dealmaker,” Redman said he wished the administration had continued “Project Freedom.” He warned against sacrificing “short-term political gain for long-term lack of safety,” adding that if the U.S. does not secure a good deal restricting Iran’s nuclear ambitions, “a lot of this will be for nothing.”

Redman also addressed alternative strategies, suggesting there are “Plan As, Bs, and Cs,” potentially involving Israel and Gulf nations like the UAE to remove uranium and constrain Iran. He called Israel “one of the greatest nations there is right now” in terms of seeking the elimination or constraint of the Iranian regime.

Citing the economic pressure already in place, he noted that 90% of Iran’s trade goes through its ports, and the country has only 12 to 24 days left to store its crude oil before damaging its wells. “Now is not the time to go wobbly,” he said.

Redman, who lost teammates on the battlegrounds of Iraq to Iranian-supplied explosives, warned that the American people are often a “short-term-focused nation.” He stressed the need to maintain pressure so that his grandson does not have to face the same threats 20 years from now. “It’s critical we maintain this pressure and make sure we get a good deal,” he concluded.