1 00:00:01,480 --> 00:00:03,280 Speaker 1: This is Ed Morrissey of hot air dot Com for 2 00:00:03,360 --> 00:00:06,080 Speaker 1: town Hall. Donald Trump has an opportunity to go for 3 00:00:06,120 --> 00:00:08,600 Speaker 1: the jugular in his war with the Iranian terror regime, 4 00:00:08,880 --> 00:00:12,440 Speaker 1: and the IRGC has provided a perfect pretext for it now. 5 00:00:12,880 --> 00:00:15,440 Speaker 1: During the first phase of the war, both sides kept 6 00:00:15,440 --> 00:00:18,440 Speaker 1: the oil flowing through the Strait of Hormuz. As Iran's 7 00:00:18,440 --> 00:00:21,160 Speaker 1: other deterrens have failed, they have decided to attack shipping 8 00:00:21,160 --> 00:00:24,160 Speaker 1: in the Persian Gulf to pressure Trump into retreat. A 9 00:00:24,280 --> 00:00:27,040 Speaker 1: sharp rise in oil prices have panic the media and 10 00:00:27,120 --> 00:00:30,319 Speaker 1: some of our allies. Trump has instead signaled that any 11 00:00:30,320 --> 00:00:33,360 Speaker 1: further interference will result in either seizure or full scale 12 00:00:33,400 --> 00:00:37,159 Speaker 1: demolition of Carg Island. Iran exports ninety six percent of 13 00:00:37,200 --> 00:00:40,199 Speaker 1: its oil through this facility, mainly to China and India. 14 00:00:40,520 --> 00:00:42,879 Speaker 1: It is their only connection to hard currency, and it 15 00:00:42,920 --> 00:00:46,839 Speaker 1: continues to operate. Trump reportedly is considering an occupation of 16 00:00:46,880 --> 00:00:50,160 Speaker 1: carg Island now that the US has decimated its defenses. 17 00:00:50,520 --> 00:00:53,199 Speaker 1: This would checkmate the regime while preserving the facilities for 18 00:00:53,280 --> 00:00:56,480 Speaker 1: a successor government in Tehran. It's time to go for 19 00:00:56,520 --> 00:00:58,480 Speaker 1: the jugular, I'm Ed Morrissey.