Randy Manner: Former US General on the US calling off strikes against Iran, Trump's claims of a possible deal with Iran
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Why did Trump call off strikes against Iran?
In the last 90 minutes, Trump has called off further strikes against Iran. He had threatened to seize Karg Island and hit other targets very hard. He now says Iranian officials have approved a draft deal which just needs to be signed. Randy Manna is a former U.S. Army Major General and Vice Chief of the U.S. National Guard. And with us, morning, Randy. Good morning. Right. We already, as per usual, have denials from the Iranians that this is actually happening. Do you believe Trump?
No, I don't believe Trump. I believe that over the past three months, he has said over almost three dozen times, we're close to a deal, we're close to a deal. So unfortunately, I think the president has very low credibility. I certainly always am the eternal optimist that perhaps we will have a deal, but I don't believe this, no.
Okay, if the final points, as he says, have not been approved by all parties and he doesn't have a deal, why did he call off further strikes?
It's my opinion that Iran is more powerful now than they have ever been. Now, that does not mean they have a great Navy or a great Air Force, of course, because those have been mostly wiped out. But the reality is because of their strategic position, they can control the transit of commerce through the strait, and they can also hold the world hostage. So in other words, even if they negotiate away their nuclear material, the reality is their new nuclear weapon is shutting down the strait. They can hold the entire world hostage And they now know it and they did not know it prior to the war that Trump started.
Now, this threat to take Carg Island and assume total control of the oil and gas markets like Venezuela has been read as a threat to put boots on the ground. Do you believe he actually meant that or was that just a negotiating tactic?
What is Randy Manner's view on Trump's credibility regarding Iran negotiations?
It's truly a negotiating propaganda tactic. That would be extremely difficult. And then what happens when those people get there, those soldiers and Marines, because that means they have a huge target on their back. And it also would spike the oil prices tremendously because if there was any damage to the facilities there, that could even double the price of oil because of how much goes through that, literally that one facility. So that would be in no one's best interest to be able to do that, either the US or the Iranians or anyone else in the world.
What does it look like to you is the hold up here with these negotiations? Is it the frozen assets or is it the uranium talks?
I truly believe it's the president's ego. And why do I say it? Because he wants everything and he's willing to give up nothing. So the reality is the Iranians know this and they hold the cards and they are playing him along because with every day, every week that passes, the president's influence around the world drops and the Iranians' influence in the region rises. So they know how to do this. The Iranians have always been in this for the long game, as is most of the countries that are in the Middle East. But this president is in for the short, immediate gain. And they know how to play him, regretfully. It's very sad.
Randy, it's been good to talk to you. Look after yourself.
Randy Manor, former US Army Major General and Vice Chief of the US National Guard.
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