(SeaPRwire) – By: Julian Holbrooke
Steve Forbes isn’t just urging Trump to keep the Strait of Hormuz open. He’s demanding the U.S. double down on efforts to topple the Tehran regime, writing off diplomacy as a dead end. This isn’t a throwaway comment at a Vegas conference. It’s a provocative push to redefine U.S. foreign policy around uncompromising naval dominance—even if it means full-scale conflict.
Forbes frames his demand as a defense of America’s 200-year-old commitment to freedom of the seas. He cites Thomas Jefferson and the War of 1812. He calls Hormuz an international waterway, just like the South China Sea. No tolls, no restrictions, he says. All commercial ships must pass unmolested. But the subtext is impossible to miss. The Strait of Hormuz carries roughly 20% of the world’s oil supply. Keeping it open isn’t just about abstract liberty. It’s about protecting global energy markets and U.S. economic interests. His comments come as the U.S. struck Iranian targets for nine straight days. This timing isn’t random. He’s pushing the Trump administration to escalate pressure before any diplomatic pause could derail momentum.
Forbes argues air power could suffice to take down Tehran, but he doesn’t rule out boots on the ground. He points to the 1805 First Barbary War, where hand-to-hand combat secured Mediterranean navigation. He also praises Israel’s military, saying combined U.S.-Israeli force could enable Iranian army elements seeking change. The real message here is to those dissidents: the U.S. won’t pull the rug out with a fake ceasefire. He’s tying this to Trump’s recent Ukraine policy too, praising the decision to license Patriot missiles. This link isn’t accidental. Forbes sees both conflicts as fronts in a global battle to defend U.S. allies and enforce international norms. Abandoning either, he implies, would weaken America’s standing worldwide.
If Trump heeds Forbes’s call, the geopolitical pendulum will swing hard toward direct confrontation with Iran. Regional oil prices could spike, disrupting global markets. But it would also send a clear message that U.S. naval dominance isn’t up for negotiation. If he ignores it, Iran may feel emboldened to test other international waterways, eroding the norms Forbes claims to defend. The choice isn’t just about Hormuz. It’s about whether America’s 200-year-old naval doctrine still holds weight in the 21st century.
Author bio: Julian Holbrooke, an overseas international relations analyst contributing to major European dailies, focuses on Middle East security and U.S. foreign policy.