"We're in a tough spot": Mattis delivers harsh Iran assessment

Former Defense Secretary James Mattis criticized the Trump administration's Iran strategy Monday at the CERAWeek conference in Houston, calling current U.S. objectives in the region "murky" and saying "we're in a tough spot" with few viable options. Mattis warned that if Trump declares victory and withdraws U.S. forces, Iran could impose tolls on ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, and that even a degraded Iranian military retains the ability to strike vessels across a 600-mile shipping corridor using anti-ship cruise missiles fired from pickup trucks. The stark assessment underscores the challenge of protecting global oil supplies—Brent crude fell to just below $100 per barrel Monday after Trump backed off threats to strike Iranian power plants, but remains elevated compared to $73 before hostilities began three weeks ago. Both Mattis and Brookings Institution vice president Suzanne Maloney said solving the energy crisis requires coordinated U.S. action with allies on military, economic sanctions, and diplomatic fronts to force Iran to the negotiating table.