Henry Olsen: American Pollster on Donald Trump's naval blockade of Iranian ports, ceasefire negotiations

United States President Donald Trump may have to resort to bombing Iran again, according to an American columnist and pollster. 

Henry Olsen told Ryan Bridge that Trump will not be satisfied until Iran ends its nuclear programme. 

"I think Trump may eventually have to go back to bombing. 

"Trump has already committed American prestige and his personal prestige to the ending of the nuclear programme." 

The President is always clear about his goals during negotiations and has been "very clear" about that objective, throughout the campaign, Olsen said. 

"Until he gets it, he's going to continue to use what's at his disposal, and that does include bombing and potentially a land invasion.” 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
So the US blockade of Iran's ports underway in the
Straight of horn Moves, although the US Navy won't enter
This is according to a former defense official, won't enter
the Straight of hor Moves because they might get lobbed
with grenades and all sorts of mines from speedboats. But
they are going to blockade the ports in Iran, and

(00:21):
any Iranian fast attack ship caught trying to approach the
blockade will be immediately eliminated. That's the latest from Trump.
Henry Els, an American polster in Washington Post columnist, joins
us this morning, Henry good a good day. It's a
bit of It's a bit of a whack a mole job,
isn't it. When you've got all those speedboats, sixty percent
of the fast boat capability of Iran still in play.

Speaker 2 (00:44):
Yeah, I mean, but then you've got the question of
the American aircraft carrier that the You know, you've got
forty eight planes and a lot of helicopters that can
help do that over time. If they really do try
and challenge the Americans with that, they'll find that the
knee that's in the area can sink those ships pretty quickly.

Speaker 1 (01:04):
What do you think the chances are of these piece
talks getting back on track.

Speaker 2 (01:10):
Not very high. The fact is, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard
CORP is in charge of Iran, and there's a reason
the word revolutionary is in their title. These are people
who are committed to the expansionary goals of the regime,
and if they were going to satisfy Trump's bottom line
condition for no nuclear program removal of the enriched uranium,

(01:33):
they probably would already have done it. I think Trump's
going to have to rely on the continued pressure on
around both military and economically through the blockade, to force
some sort of reduction in power by the IRGC before
he gets anywhere with the negotiations.

Speaker 1 (01:49):
What a voters in the US thinking, well, we know
what they're thinking about the war and how they're feeling
about it. Does that restrict Trump's military options? Does he
go back to bombing?

Speaker 2 (02:00):
I think Trump may eventually have to go back to bombing.
The fact is that while gas prices, Trump has already
committed orkin prestige and his personal prestige to the ending
of the nuclear program. You know, He's been very clear
about this in this campaign years before. You can find

(02:21):
tapes of him going back forty years. Donald Trump always
signals what he wants out of a negotiation, and if
you accept that then there's always good terms. But what
he wants is an end to the nuclear program permanently,
and he gets it. He's going to continue what's at
his disposal, and that does include bomb and potentially a

(02:43):
lands invasion.

Speaker 1 (02:45):
How comprehensive was all Bonds Allband's loss, I should say
in Hungary you've been the covering it.

Speaker 2 (02:53):
It was massive, I mean, and it is from having
two thirds control to having under third of the parliament.
They've lost virtually every constituency in the country, places that
they never thought they would lose. You know, it's hard
for me to think of a New Zealand parallel. It
would be akin to I suppose Judas Collins being wiped

(03:16):
out in twenty twenty, the Red power being able to
change the constitution. Yeah, on this case, it was a
It was a green and red tsunami. Those are the
colors of peace at the opposition party.

Speaker 1 (03:31):
Good to have you on as always, Henry Elson, who
is an American columnist in Pulsta For more Familiarly edition
with Ryan Bridge, listen live to news talks it'd be
from five am weekdays.

Speaker 2 (03:43):
Well, follow the podcast on iHeartRadio