Retired Commanders Split on Iran Ceasefire Viability as Trump Reviews Military Options

" He told reporters on Monday that the ceasefire is on "massive life support" and compared its chances to a doctor saying a loved one has approximately a 1% chance of living. " The White House is reviewing military options should negotiations with Iran collapse. Iran has halted oil traffic despite the Trump ceasefire.

Retired Lt. Gen. R. McMaster said he believes Iran’s leadership and the IRGC are unwilling to make the kind of concessions that President Trump thinks are at the minimum.

R. McMaster told Fox News Digital that President Trump always wants a deal but is not going to sign up for a bad deal. " Retired Vice Adm. Mark Fox said he believes the current ceasefire and diplomatic track are unlikely to force Iran to back down.

"I really cannot envision anything other than a full return to combat operations," Fox told Fox News Digital. " Retired Vice Adm. U.S. military remains capable of reopening and securing commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

He outlined a strategy for securing the Strait of Hormuz involving guided missile destroyers, attack helicopters, drones and expanded aerial surveillance. U.S. Navy is smaller than it was during the 1980s tanker wars.

"This is a militarily obtainable objective," he said of securing the waterway, while acknowledging the smaller fleet size. "It’s not easy," Fox said. " Retired Vice Adm. Mark Fox signed onto a recent policy paper by the Jewish Institute for National Security of America.

The policy paper was authored by retired Gen. Chuck Wald, retired Vice Adm. U.S. military officials. U.S.

Demands. Fox, who signed the paper, echoed its view that Iran is using negotiations to buy time while preserving its military capabilities. Retired Lt. Col. Daniel Davis said that to ‘finish the job’ against Iran is irrational, illogical, and violates any kind of military principle.

"To ‘finish the job,’ as they say, is irrational," Davis told Fox News Digital. " Retired Lt. Col. Daniel Davis told Fox News Digital that despite thousands of strikes and weeks of fighting, Iran retained significant missile and maritime capabilities.

U.S. hit 14,000 targets but could not knock Iran out. "We couldn't knock them out with 14,000 targets hit," he said. " The disagreement reflects a broader divide emerging in Washington as officials weigh what comes next if negotiations fail.

U.S. and Israeli strikes failed to break the regime’s control or eliminate its military capabilities.