The former head of US Central Command claimed the war campaign in Iran is going “further along than we would have expected” based on years of battle simulations.
Retired Gen. Frank McKenzie, who served under President Trump and Joe Biden, insisted that the US and Israel’s ongoing bombardments would cripple Iran’s military and pave the way to total victory.
“I believe that they will break. I believe that they will come to terms,” McKenzie told CBS’s “Face the Nation.”
“I’ve simulated this for many years in many positions at Central Command. We’re a little further along than we would have expected to be at this point in all the simulations that I’ve seen,” he added.
The former commander said that the current goal was to reduce Iran’s missile and drone capabilities through targeted airstrikes, which would free Tehran’s grip on the Strait of Hormuz.
The Islamic republic shut down the critical trade route in retaliation to America and Israel’s war campaign, leading to soaring fuel prices and shortages around the world.
“What we’re doing right now is we’re reducing Iranian ability to target ships in the strait through their short range missiles, their drones and other activities,” McKenzie explained.
“We do that by maintaining air superiority over southern Iran on a 24/7 basis, looking for where these missiles are and striking them relentlessly,” he added. “Once we reduce those to a very low level, then you’ll be able to go in, if necessary, sweep for mines.”
The retired general noted that the US has had many years to plan for seizing the Strait of Hormuz, along with Kharg Island, which houses the bulk of Iran’s oil production.
“If you seize Kharg Island, you really can shut down the Iranian oil economy completely,” he said. “… We need to continue to press them very hard, because that is, in fact, the only thing they will respond to.”
It remains unclear how long the war in Iran might last as Tehran continues to refuse direct negotiations with the US, with its leaders demanding full compensation over the destruction of the fighting.
With the war entering its second month, Trump and team are allegedly looking to complete the operation by mid-April, which could include the deployment of ground forces deep within Iran, the Wall Street Journal reported.
The president has maintained that the US would fulfill several goals in the war, including the destruction of Iran’s nuclear program and Tehran’s ability to control its terror network in the Middle East.
