I sailed through the Strait of Hormuz many times in my 21 years of naval service. Though we were at peace at the time, I stared down the barrels of Iranian ships, aircraft and missiles. I saw with my own eyes the threat and harassment that the Iranian navy caused to international shipping. I think it is a good thing that the Iranian navy is now on the bottom of the sea. I was proud of our service members as they fought hard and well. I mourned with the nation as we lost thirteen of our own.<\/p>\n
It is, therefore, especially painful to read the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding<\/a>\u00a0that President Trump signed with Iran<\/a> to end the war.<\/p>\n Prior to Trump\u2019s 2026 war, Iran had zero administration over the strait. Any country in the world could sail any ship it wanted through the strait at no cost. No country even notified or coordinated with the Iranians in any way whatsoever before transiting the strait.<\/p>\n No longer. Shockingly, Point 5 of the Memorandum of Understanding specifies that Iran will use \u201cits best efforts for the safe passage of commercial vessels with no charge for 60 days only.\u201d This obviously gives the option for future Iranian fees after 60 days. Even worse, the U.S. agrees that, \u201cIran will conduct dialogue with the Sultanate of Oman to define the future administration and maritime services in the Strait of Hormuz.\u201d<\/p>\n In other words, Iran has gotten the U.S. to agree, in writing, to give Iran the option to charge fees for safe passage after 60 days, and that Iran can define itself a role in the future administration of a waterway that was previously free and open to the world.<\/p>\n This hands the Iranians a future stranglehold on the world\u2019s economy. We have already seen what happens to Americans\u2019 spending power if Iran has such power. The U.S. has now formalized Iran\u2019s option for this.<\/p>\n Frighteningly, Point 6 of the agreement specifies that \u201cThe United States of America undertakes with regional partners\u201d to provide \u201cat least $300 billion for the reconstruction and economic development\u201d of Iran. Let\u2019s put that amount in perspective.<\/p>\n Iran estimates that it suffered $270 billion in damage<\/a> from the war. With $300 billion, Iran stands to achieve a net profit from the war of $30 billion dollars. That profit is enough to rebuild their navy many times over. The most expensive warship in history is the American Ford class aircraft carrier and Iran could buy two with $30 billion dollars. Iran could buy a dozen U.S. guided missile destroyers whereas before 2026 Iran didn\u2019t possess a single ship with similar capability. Thanks to the Memorandum of Understanding, the future looks bright for the Iranian military.<\/p>\n This doesn\u2019t even count the economic benefits of future sanctions relief that Trump has promised Iran under Point 7.<\/p>\n Compare that $30 billion profit for Iran to the over $130 billion that the war has cost the United States<\/a>. That doesn\u2019t include the cost of combat losses in aircraft and destroyed U.S. base facilities which may run an additional $50 billion<\/a>. No one, certainly not Iran, is going to reimburse American taxpayers for any of that. The lives of the Americans who were killed were priceless.<\/p>\n