General Kimmitt on Iran tensions (with Katie Greifeld, Romaine Bostick)

Asks about the change in tone from President Trump, from ceasefire talks to threatening to 'hit Iran hard'.

Katie Greifeld

Mark Kimmitt

The president likely found out Iranians are unserious about negotiations. I've never felt they were serious about reducing their nuclear program.

The joke in DC is we've been encountering a 'peace fire'.

Asks about the Strait of Hormuz as leverage for Iran, given US military has supported passage of 200+ ships.

Katie Greifeld

Mark Kimmitt

The Strait of Hormuz and Lebanon are diversions. The war was started for three reasons: nuclear program, missile program, proxy program. Iran is cleverly turning focus to these diversions. There is a pattern of delaying, denying, diverting.

There is no logical reason for Iran to not want a nuclear program except to relieve themselves of war and sanctions, but they've shown they are flexible and durable.

Asks what 'finishing the war' would look like, referencing Nikki Haley's comments.

Romaine Bostick

Mark Kimmitt

I agree Iran was never serious about negotiating. But military success alone will not lead to strategic success. We need to use all elements of national power: diplomacy, information, economics, and military. Iran is a tough nut to crack.

Unless we go significantly higher pressure and possibly go after infrastructure targets we otherwise would not go for.

Asks about the symbiosis between military leaders and diplomats in past conflicts.

Romaine Bostick

Mark Kimmitt

In Iraq and Afghanistan, we had large State Department elements working side-by-side with military forces, integrated down to provincial reconstruction teams. But in tough cases like Iran, that is not enough to change the thinking and behavior of the regime.

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