Bryan Clark appears on Al Jazeera to discuss President Donald Trump’s ambition to make the Strait of Hormuz “an American territory” and his demand that Iran “raise the flag of surrender,” which Clark described as a “maximalist demand.” He said diplomacy is at a standstill and that the United States has “no good options,” with the naval blockade yet to force Iran to yield. Clark predicted a possible settlement in which Iran and Oman control the strait under a fee arrangement, which would offer the US a face-saving outcome.
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US sailors conduct routine maintenance on a jet blast deflector on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Nimitz on July 9, 2025. (US Navy)