Intelligence Officials Tell Senator King They Assessed Iran Would Likely Hold the Strait of Hormuz as Leverage

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) pressed administration officials on known intelligence that Iran could consider a blockage of the Strait of Hormuz as leverage if the United States attacked Iran. In the annual Worldwide Threats hearing of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI), King specifically pressed Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence, and John Ratcliffe, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, on whether the potential blockade, and other retaliatory consequences, were communicated to the President prior to his decision to follow through with airstrikes in an attempt to cripple the regime. President Trump has maintained in public remarks that Iran halting activity in the region wasn't fully considered ahead of the missile strikes and Operation Epic Fury.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical passageway between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman in which a large percentage of the global oil supply and liquified natural gas (LNG) passes through shipping lanes on an annual basis. Because of the blockade, global oil prices have risen globally with prices in Maine rising more than 20% since the military operation began at the beginning of the month.

Senator King began, "There seems to be a discrepancy between what the intelligence community has reported over the years and what the President has said in terms of this action. For example, Senator Wyden read the report from a year ago that strikes against neighboring state and action to close the Strait of Hormuz was predicted by the Intelligence Community. And the President says nobody knew. My question is, did you tell him? Anybody want to answer that question?"

"I will answer the question. So, with regard to briefings, the President gets briefings constantly about intelligence. The comment that you talked about, I have not heard, but what I can tell you is that Iran had specific plans to hit U.S. interests in energy sites across the region and that is why the Department of War and the Department of State took measures for force protection and personal protection in advance of Operation Epic Fury. I think that is what is most important," replied Director Ratcliffe.

"Any prediction to the President about the Strait of Hormuz? All you have to do is look at a map and see the vulnerability of the Strait of Hormuz. Was that part of the briefing, Director Gabbard?," Senator King followed up.

"Director Radcliffe made the point here that this has long been an assessment of the IC that Iran would likely hold the Strait of Hormuz as leverage," said Director Gabbard.

"My question is, was that communicated to the President in the lead up to the action?," Senator King asked.

"Because of that long-standing assessment that the IC has continued to report that the Department of War took the preemptive planning measures that it did," replied Director Gabbard.

"Well, they stated that they did not plan for the Strait of Hormuz. The President said, 'who knew that was going to happen?'" Senator King concluded.

As a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), Senator King is recognized as an authoritative voice on national security and foreign policy issues. Immediately following the American airstrikes Iran, he released a statement asking for answers and consultation with Congress before proceeding with further military action in the Middle East. Senator King is also a co-sponsor to the a war powers resolution S.J. Res 104.

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