The former National Security Advisor to U.S. President Donald Trump, Herbert Raymond McMaster, has voiced his support for the United States’ military action against Iran. Speaking to “Die Zeit”, McMaster stated, “Yes, I would have advised Trump to wage this war”.
According to McMaster, Iran has been steadily expanding its missile and drone stockpiles over several years. He suggested that Tehran is utilizing this vast arsenal as a shield to acquire the world’s most destructive weapon: nuclear capability. In his view, the placement of an atomic weapon in the hands of a theocratic dictatorship would be “truly unacceptable”.
The retired general noted that the Iranian regime has been significantly weakened. Regarding the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, McMaster argued that the U.S. only lacks the initial attempt to reopen it. He asserted that, if necessary, the strait must be militarily secured and made navigable again.
Addressing a critique made by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU), who claimed the U.S. had been “humiliated” by the Iranian regime, the former U.S. adviser cautioned against speaking out. McMaster suggested that making such dramatic criticisms, particularly toward Donald Trump, was “not a good idea”.
McMaster himself served as the U.S. President’s National Security Advisor from 2017 until his resignation in 2018. Today, he is [among other roles] a fellow at the Hoover Institution, a prominent U.S. think tank. Notably, his relationship with Donald Trump has been described as strained.