Sen. Cotton: ‘Massive retaliation’ against Iran needed to end attacks on US assets
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) argued on Monday that massive retaliation against Iran is necessary to end its aggression and attacks on US assets, including the recent attack on two US Navy warships in the Gulf of Oman.
During a Fox News interview, Cotton said the US needs to send a strong message to Iran that a “price will be paid for their aggression”. He said that it is possible to “dramatically escalate” the situation with Iran without leading to an all-out war.
“I think the best deterrent of aggression is massive retaliation by the United States of America,” Cotton said. “We have to send the signal, not just to the Iranian government, but to the whole world, that the United States of America will not be threatened and will strike back when our interests are attacked.”
Cotton said the US has “a wide array of options” to respond to Iran, including economic, diplomatic, as well as covert options. He also said the US could deploy additional forces to the Persian Gulf region, where it currently has the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group and a bomber task force.
“I think we do need to show the Iranians and the world that there’s a massive price to pay if they continue to attack American assets in the Gulf,” Cotton concluded.