The United States has made it clear that the Strait of Hormuz remains open despite Iran’s recent attack on a commercial vessel, and U.S. leadership is responding firmly while pursuing diplomatic leverage. NATO Ambassador Matthew Whitaker reaffirmed U.S. control of freedom of navigation, tied the response to the performance-based memorandum with Iran, and spoke about broader NATO and regional issues including the F-35 discussions with Turkey and reflections on Senator Graham’s contributions.
U.S. forces acted quickly after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reportedly fired on and struck a commercial ship transiting the strait, an act that violated the conditions of the memorandum of understanding that kept tensions in check. U.S. Central Command reiterated that the waterway remained open and that freedom of navigation prevailed, signaling that regional stability depends on American resolve. From a Republican perspective, decisive strength and clear consequences are what deter further aggression and protect global commerce.
The conversation then shifted to NATO matters, including the possibility of Turkey rejoining aspects of the F-35 program, a topic the ambassador addressed following the president’s trip to the NATO summit. Matthew Whitaker told CNN host Jake Tapper that the F-35 is “more than a fighter jet” and that the platform’s presence in Europe strengthens allied deterrence and interoperability. He emphasized the need to enforce U.S. law around security preconditions while also recognizing Turkey’s strategic role in the region.
The president kicked things off Tuesday by meeting with Turkish President Erdoğan at the Beştepe Presidential Complex in Ankara. Right off the bat, President Trump revealed he is considering letting Turkey back into the F-35 program, which could involve selling the fighter jets to Turkey’s air force.
Whitaker framed the F-35 question as a negotiation the president is handling to protect American interests, noting that any move must square with legal and security requirements. He argued the United States should “lean into” relationships with capable regional partners while preserving red lines that protect sensitive U.S. technology and capabilities. That approach blends firmness with targeted diplomatic engagement, a common Republican stance on security partnerships.
WHITAKER: Jake, the F-35 is an unprecedented platform. It’s more than a fighter jet. It can do really some amazing things.
And we’re going to have over six hundred ultimately here in Europe in control of our allies. Turkey wants to be part of the F-35 program. The S-400 air defense system is a conditioned precedent, as you point out, under U.S. law. I think what President Trump is doing is negotiating the deal with President Erdogan because that’s the right thing to do, is to accomplish the goal of that law.
But take — what we saw in Turkey and what my tours through Turkey have shown me is that they are a very capable ally, that they are integrated with the West, that they, again, want to be a key ally, especially in that region. They have been very helpful in other conflicts in that region. And I think we should lean into that relationship with Turkey.
But, obviously, we have red lines, and President Trump is going to make sure that the right deal is cut. And my good friend Tom Barrack, our ambassador to Turkey, is also going to make sure that that deal is in the best interest of the American people.
When pressed about Iran’s aggression, Whitaker left little doubt about the U.S. stance: the strait will remain open and Tehran’s attacks have consequences. He tied enforcement actions to the MOU’s performance conditions and pointedly referenced past U.S. responses to maritime threats. His language underscored a simple message—strength and clarity are required to protect global trade routes and deter state-sponsored harassment.
Watch:
WHITAKER: Well, the United States of America’s position is, the state of — the Strait of Hormuz will remain open.
Obviously, the memorandum of understanding with Iran was always performance-based, and one of the conditions was that Iran cannot terrorize commercial vessels transiting the strait. And so President Trump is responding to these attacks, whether it’s when three ships were attacked, we hit 90 military targets.
Now another ship was attacked, and so we hit 140 or more targets, and that’s what they should expect. But President Trump’s a peacemaker, Jake, and he wants a deal with Iran. He wants to make sure that they never have a nuclear weapon, that they join the world as a contributor in a normalized country.
But, right now, it’s — as President Trump has said, and Marco Rubio has also stated, this country is controlled by a bunch of crazy people. And, ultimately, they’re going to have to understand the United States is very serious about this and will continue to be clear-eyed on the threats.
The ambassador also answered personal questions about the late senator’s legacy, recalling frequent travels and shared concern for America’s role in the world. Whitaker described the senator as a patriot focused on ensuring the United States maintained strength and influence abroad. He spoke with genuine respect, noting the loss leaves a considerable void in foreign policy discussions.
He is certainly an American patriot and was always very interested in America’s place in the world and making sure that we were coming from a position of strength.
I think he obviously leaves a big hole in the Senate, and my thoughts and prayers are with his family as they deal with this shocking news.
The full interview was made available with accompanying video content, preserving the ambassador’s unfiltered remarks on these pressing issues. The administration’s emphasis remains on deterrence and making clear that attacks on commerce and allies will be met decisively. In this environment, clear-eyed U.S. leadership and readiness are the tools that maintain peace through strength.
https://x.com/CNNSOTU/status/2076332522581999897
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