Former CENTCOM commander, retired four-star General Joseph Votel, discussed the strategic challenges posed by the IRGC during an interview on Fox News.
Addressing the question of whether the U.S. might engage the IRGC’s fast boats, General Votel noted that while such an action could be viewed by Iran as a ceasefire violation, the current activities of the regime must also be considered.
“Well, it certainly would be viewed by Iran as a ceasefire violation, but again, what Iran is doing out here of harassing ships and bringing them into their own ports, I think can also be characterized in the same way,” Votel explained.
When asked about the tactical difficulty of countering these threats, Votel highlighted the nature of the IRGC’s maritime forces.
“That may not be an option for us. They literally have hundreds of these types of speed boats. They’re easy to conceal along a very rugged coastline there,” Votel added.
Despite the current hostilities, there remains a push for diplomatic resolution. Votel suggested that continued military and economic pressure remains a viable path forward should the Iranian regime fail to engage in good faith.
“So that certainly could be an option down the line if the Iranian regime doesn’t come to the table or offer something up very soon, I think,” Votel concluded.
