Staff Reports
President Donald Trump ordered strikes and kept the pressure up on Iran, and retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg says the job isn’t half done. Kellogg told viewers on Newsmax that if the U.S. wants peace, it must choke off Tehran’s money and control the oil that funds its mischief. That’s blunt. It also might be exactly what’s needed.
Kellogg’s “must do” for President Donald Trump
On Newsmax, Keith Kellogg didn’t mince words. He urged President Donald Trump to move beyond pinprick strikes and to strike at Iran’s economic lifeline. Kellogg said options include seizing or denying control of key oil hubs like Kharg Island and “putting a stranglehold on their economy.” That kind of talk sounds severe because it is severe. But when a regime funds proxies and fires on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, decisive measures should be on the table.
Seize the oil? Kharg Island and strategic leverage
Oil, leverage, and practical realities
Calling for control of Kharg Island and Iran’s oil exports is not fantasy—it’s strategy. Take away the cash and you remove the fuel for terrorism, missiles, and regional chaos. Critics will howl about escalation and market shocks. Fine. Better a temporary energy jolt than endless attacks on ships, U.S. sailors, and allied interests. If President Donald Trump wants results, he must weigh options that actually change Tehran’s cost-benefit analysis, not empty condemnations from the safety of think-tank keyboards.
Legal fights and the role of Congress
No one is pretending these are simple choices. Moving from strikes to seizure or occupation raises War Powers, legal, and logistical questions. Congress should step up. If Republicans and allies want a strong, credible foreign policy, they will back the president while insisting on oversight and clear authorities. Democrats who scream about “regime change” but never explain what they would do differently don’t get a veto. The fight in Washington should be accountability and clarity—not reflexive obstruction.
Why America must act and how to finish the job
We can hope negotiations work, but hope is not a strategy when Tehran is shooting first. President Donald Trump showed resolve in the Strait of Hormuz and in recent strikes. Kellogg’s advice is stark: use military, economic, and territorial pressure to deny Iran the means to wage war by proxy. If we are serious about protecting shipping lanes, allies, and global energy stability, then we must be serious about the tools that deliver outcomes. The time for gentle nudges is over—either we finish the job or we keep paying the bill for inaction.
