The Iranian
seizure of a U.S.-protected ship is a blatant hijacking — and "outrageous" coming amid nuclear negotiations with Tehran, former Rep. Pete Hoekstra says.
In an interview with J.D. Hayworth on Newsmax Prime on
Newsmax TV on Friday, the former chairman of the House Intelligence Committee said the incident only highlights the deep-rooted problems with the Obama administration's handling of the Iranian nuclear negotiations.
"Since we've been negotiating with Iran, we never set any preconditions for the [United States] to sit down at the table, and there's some major issues out there that we should have resolved and set the expectations up front," said Hoekstra, a Michigan Republican.
Story continues below video.
Watch Newsmax TV on DirecTV Ch. 349, DISH Ch. 223 and Verizon FiOS Ch. 115. Get Newsmax TV on your cable system — Click Here Now
Among those conditions, he says, should have been a demand for the release of Americans the Iranians are holding and that Tehran recognize the right of Israel to exist as a nation-state.
"As these negotiations have been going forward, they have participated in the overthrow of a U.S.-backed regime in Yemen, and now they've, yes, 'redirected'" a U.S-protected ship, Hoekstra said.
"I'd say they've hijacked a U.S.-flagged ship," forcing the Navy to "shadow our merchant ships through the Straits of Hormuz. It's absolutely outrageous," he added.
Hoekstra also praised Arkansas Republican Sen.
Tom Cotton for his Twitter battle with Iran's foreign minister.
"Sen. Cotton has been a champion on working toward getting a good deal" with Iran, Hoekstra said.
"But at this point in time, we need to be aiming the debate at our own president . . . The Senate needs to be involved because this president has been an architect of disaster when it comes to foreign policy in the Middle East, and if we get a bad agreement out of these negotiations, there's no way that we'll be able to turn back."
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.