Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, said that the U.S. bombing raid on Iran’s Kharg Island, home of the country’s largest oil terminal and a crucial hub for its crude exports, was like “checkmate” on the regime.
McCaul praised President Donald Trump’s strategy to target the major Iranian strategic asset during an appearance on “Fox News Sunday.”
“The attack on Kharg Island, which is a crown jewel, 90 percent of the exports out of Iran come from there. It is like a checkmate on the supreme leader,” he said.
He continued: “It was an absolutely brilliant military strategy. So the military objective is very clear, and it’s going very well. The president could declare victory there.”
Trump on Friday said the strikes “obliterated” military targets on the island but did not target any oil infrastructure at the hub. The raid came as global energy markets remain rattled over security of the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most important oil choke point.
McCaul, however, said he believes that Americans will see “the price of gas go way down” once the U.S. achieves its military objective.
“I think, again, controlling Kharg Island, controlling Venezuela and the oil energy exports there, long term, we’re going have more control over energy in this world than we did before the invasion of Iran,” he said.
McCaul acknowledged that while there may be short term economic pain, “long term, it is going to put us far better off for not just my children, but for the future generations.”