If Trump’s naval mission ‘only half-thought out’, it could lead to ‘disaster’
We have more from Harlan Ullman at the Killowen Group.
The former US naval officer said the risks of Trump’s Project Freedom are significant and could lead to dangerous escalation if Iran chooses to resist it.
“Iran has huge amounts of drones and small craft that could make this very, very difficult,” Ullman told Al Jazeera. “I would hate to see a confrontation where an American warship is hit, because then the Americans will have no other option except to retaliate.”
He expressed hope that Trump’s announcement marked a diplomatic “breakthrough” made in coordination with Iran and the mediators in the talks between the two countries. “I hope the Pakistanis, the Omanis, or the Saudis have been instrumental in some kind of pre-negotiation to allow this to happen,” he said.
Ullman said success ultimately requires diplomacy. “The only solution to this crisis is a reopening of the strait, followed by a long diplomatic negotiation with Iran to deal with its nuclear ambitions. If this mission is a well-considered first step, well done to the Trump administration. But if it has only been half-thought out and leads to escalation, it could be a disaster.”
He added, “Negotiation, not bombardment, is the only way this will be solved without disrupting the international economic order.”
The answer is capitalism, not imperialism.
If Trump’s naval mission ‘only half-thought out’, it could lead to ‘disaster’
We have more from Harlan Ullman at the Killowen Group.
The former US naval officer said the risks of Trump’s Project Freedom are significant and could lead to dangerous escalation if Iran chooses to resist it.
“Iran has huge amounts of drones and small craft that could make this very, very difficult,” Ullman told Al Jazeera. “I would hate to see a confrontation where an American warship is hit, because then the Americans will have no other option except to retaliate.”
He expressed hope that Trump’s announcement marked a diplomatic “breakthrough” made in coordination with Iran and the mediators in the talks between the two countries. “I hope the Pakistanis, the Omanis, or the Saudis have been instrumental in some kind of pre-negotiation to allow this to happen,” he said.
Ullman said success ultimately requires diplomacy. “The only solution to this crisis is a reopening of the strait, followed by a long diplomatic negotiation with Iran to deal with its nuclear ambitions. If this mission is a well-considered first step, well done to the Trump administration. But if it has only been half-thought out and leads to escalation, it could be a disaster.”
He added, “Negotiation, not bombardment, is the only way this will be solved without disrupting the international economic order.”
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2026/5/4/iran-war-live-tehran-says-trumps-hormuz-mission-violates-ceasefire