Ex-NSA Advisor Bolton Backs Trump's Call for Strait of Hormuz Blockade, Says It 'Makes Sense'
Former National Security Advisor John Bolton has publicly endorsed President Donald Trump's abrupt call for a U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, stating the move 'makes sense.' This high-profile backing from a key former official injects significant political weight into a declaration that followed the collapse of peace talks with Iran in Islamabad, raising the immediate stakes for a critical global chokepoint.
The endorsement came during an interview on Bloomberg This Weekend with Christina Ruffini and Tim Stenovec. Bolton, known for his hawkish stance on Iran, did not elaborate on operational specifics but framed the blockade as a logical strategic response. President Trump had declared the blockade would be 'effective immediately,' directly linking it to the failed diplomatic efforts, a move that bypasses traditional policy channels and escalates rhetoric to actionable military threat.
Bolton's support signals a potential alignment of influential foreign policy voices behind a maximalist pressure campaign, increasing the political pressure on Tehran. The Strait of Hormuz is a vital artery for roughly a fifth of the world's oil, meaning any operational move toward a blockade would trigger severe market volatility and confrontational responses from global powers and regional actors. The situation now hinges on whether Trump's declaration translates into tangible naval action or remains a tool of coercive diplomacy, with Bolton's remarks adding fuel to an already volatile geopolitical flashpoint.