See video below.
John Bolton spoke to Anderson Cooper on CNN last night and commented on Iran War developments.
Overall, he was supportive of their initiative.
Key points:
> He thinks that the Iranian leadership IS badly fractured, a consequence of the number of leaders eliminated.
"That to me is a sign that the collapse of the regime is making progress," he said. "We should go back at it. Not talk to them, but continue the job."
> He however thinks that Trump's current Iran ceasefire "essentially" only benefits the regime.
> He DID call out Hegseth for calling out Democratic politicians against the war. But he goes on to say: "I think many of the criticisms from the Democratic side are wrong, including some criticisms of Hegseth are wrong, but this is not civil discourse, really on either side of these two hearings yesterday and today."
> "Is the war essentially over?" Cooper asked. Bolton laughed and said, "I think it's market manipulation... get that price of oil down."
> Cooper: "Do you believe that this is the time to continue military action, not diplomatic action?"
Bolton: "Of course. Yes. When they are down, keep pressuring them."
He also doesn't think there will be US boots on the ground in substantial numbers, and that it important for the US to open the Strait of Hormuz militarily.
John Bolton is a former US Ambassador to the United Nations (2005-06), and a former national security advisor (2018-19), among other previous roles.
