GOP Rep. Gimenez: We Should Have Demonstrated Our Ability to Open the Strait Before Negotiations

Rep. Carlos Gimenez Talks Iran and the Strait of Hormuz

During an appearance on CNN’s “The Situation Room” on Tuesday, Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-Fla.) expressed a desire to see a demonstration of U.S. capability to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, regardless of Iran’s actions. However, he acknowledged that achieving this would take time.

Gimenez said, “I would have preferred to demonstrate before finalizing any negotiations that we can keep the strait open no matter what Iran does. We have a deal now, but its contents are unclear, so we’re waiting anxiously to understand the details, safeguards, and verification processes involved.” He added, “It seems it took some time to develop this. Initially, we thought we were progressing. The president mentioned several ships were navigating the strait with the support of American warships, yet we needed to limit our own capacity to threaten those vessels.” He emphasized that it’s a matter of time, indicating that the president aimed to resolve matters quickly.

He pointed out two critical issues within the agreement: first, ensuring Iran cannot obtain nuclear weapons, and second, guaranteeing that Iran would not shut down the Strait of Hormuz, which is essential for unhindered commerce. According to Gimenez, these factors are the core of the deal, along with the verification procedures. He also remarked on the importance of maintaining economic pressure on Iran, emphasizing that they need to be aware that the U.S. is willing to take action should they violate the terms of the deal. “I think trust is not something I have in them. The only effective way to engage with Iran is through the use of force to compel compliance. We need to see what this agreement entails,” he stated.