Overview
- Margaret Brennan, who pressed Rep. Mike Turner on Face the Nation on Sunday, challenged his claim that the president’s Iran goals are very clear and urged him to pick a position.
- Brennan recited the president’s shifting statements on the Strait of Hormuz, from pledging Navy tanker escorts on March 3 to mulling a takeover on March 9 and later saying allies should handle it.
- She added that days after saying allies would take the lead, the president threatened strikes on Iran’s power plants if the strait did not open within 48 hours, then announced a two-week ceasefire saying Iran agreed to open it.
- Brennan said CENTCOM announced two ships to set conditions for clearing mines and noted the president said the Navy would start blockading the strait and interdicting ships, while Turner replied that a conflict is fluid.
- She cited CBS polling that many Americans do not see a clear strategy and stressed the strait’s role as a key oil chokepoint where escorts, mine-clearing, or a blockade could raise risks for crews and shippers.