Mattis Warns US on Hormuz Tensions: Few Good Choices

On March 24th, former Defense Secretary James Mattis warned that the United States has

few good choices when it comes to the Strait of Hormuz amid, rising tensions with Iran.

Speaking at a major energy conference in Houston, he highlighted how the U.S., and its allies,

face a fragile setup that's already shaking of global oil, flows and long-term plans.

The core issue stems from unclear goals toward Iran, leaving military moves feeling scattered

without a solid overall plan. Mattis pointed out that pulling back American forces too soon

could hant a wrong control of this vital shipping lane, where a huge chunk of the world's oil

passes through. Experts on the panel share concerns about the fallout, including higher calls

for everyone if Iran starts charging fees on vessels. Mattis, who left the Trump administration

over strategy clashes, stressed that spotty air strikes alone can't fix deeper problems,

especially with Iran's long coastline and sneaky missile threats still in play.

Suzanne Maloney from the Brookings Institution backed him up, noting Iran's leaders have a

knack for hanging on despite pressure. She said past tries to shake up the regime haven't worked

well. Coordinated efforts from allies on military help, sanctions and talks offer the best path forward

to ease the energy crunch and push Iran too. Negotiate.