Retired General: Iran Strikes Need Clear Exit
Votel warns that new U.S. and Israeli attacks may deplete missile defenses before achieving a defined end state.
By Pablo Montgomery ·
A new wave of U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran will likely weaken Tehran's military capacity, but it will not end the war, according to retired Army General Joseph Votel. The former head of U.S. Central Command told NPR's Leila Fadel that the conflict lacks a defined finish line. Without a specific objective, the bombing campaign risks becoming an open-ended exercise in attrition.
Votel led Central Command from 2016 to 2019 and currently chairs the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point. He noted that many potential targets have already been hit in previous rounds of attacks. Iran has demonstrated the ability to rebuild these capabilities, meaning fresh strikes will primarily buy time and punish the government rather than alter its strategic calculations.
The general argued that Washington must first define what victory looks like. He identified two primary goals: resolving the nuclear enrichment issue and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Once these objectives are set, he said, the U.S. should coordinate military, economic, diplomatic, and information pressure to achieve them. Military force is only one component of national power.
Economic pressure shows the most visible progress, Votel observed. A combination of blockades and sanctions is tightening around Iran's economy. He cited recent reporting that Iran's ghost fleet has run out of oil. While this financial strangulation takes time, he confirmed there is definite movement in that direction.
Votel acknowledged that U.S. aims have been difficult to interpret. He stated that reopening the Strait of Hormuz would help lower gas and diesel prices at home. He also cited Iran's use of proxies, including the Houthis, as a source of regional instability, but he maintained that Hormuz and enrichment are the principal concerns.
On military readiness, Votel said U.S. offensive power in the region is substantial and the ability to strike is not in question. However, he flagged missile defense as a potential constraint. Heavy pressure on defensive interceptors protecting U.S. forces and Gulf partners could deplete stockpiles before the war ends. Offensive capability is ready, but defense faces a bit of a constraint.
Source: NPR
