Bolton: Iran, US in Standoff Until After Election

Former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton Thursday applauded the U.S. military buildup in the Persian Gulf, but said it was unlikely the Obama administration would take any “serious” steps to deal with threats from Iran until after the November election.

 

Bolton also told Fox News’ Greta Van Susteren that he believes Iran has no immediate plans to escalate tensions further between the two countries either, preferring instead to await the outcome of the U.S. presidential election.

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“I think prudent military planning dictates that we be prepared in case Iran’s threats to close the Strait of Hormuz materialize. I think that’s what is going on now,” Bolton said. during his appearance on the Van Susteren program. “I don't think that’s what Iran’s going to do. I think the name of the game here for Iran is, as it is for the Obama administration, is to kick anything serious beyond the U.S. election.

 

“That’s why the negotiations have failed,” the Fox News contributor said. “That’s why the sanctions have failed. Iran’s continuing on the path to nuclear weapons.”

 

Bolton also addressed the controversy over a U.N. treaty on international arms sales currently being negotiated with Iran and other member nations that would include civilian weapons.

 

The treaty has the National Rifle Association up in arms. The gun rights group has received promises from 58 senators to vote against ratification if the treaty ends up covering the sale of civilian guns.

 

“While it sounds on its face like it’s just dealing with weapons sales between governments, there is a hidden agenda here,” Bolton said. “And the hidden agenda is by the gun-control crowd in the United States, unhappy with its inability to get the gun-control laws it wants.”

 

Bolton said gun-control advocates are “trying to negotiate ” the laws they can’t get passed in Congress into the U.N. treaty, hoping the Senate will vote to ratify it without asking too many questions.

 

“Fortunately at this point, opponents of gun-control legislation have gotten about 58 senators to sign on to say they are not going to agree to this,” Bolton continued. “This is about hunting rifles, pistols, and things that gun control advocates in this country have long sought to control in violation of the Second Amendment.”

 

Bolton said it should come as no surprise that many countries, including Iran, might be eager to negotiate a prohibitive arms-sale treaty.

 

“There is an important point here. Many governments in the U.N. don’t like the private ownership of firearms,” he said. “Totalitarian regimes around the world really don’t want their citizens to have firearms. So they are content to limit weapons sales to government to government.”

 

Bolton also spoke briefly about the situation in Syria as it relates to Russia.

 

“I don’t see any evidence that Russia’s prepared to throw the [Bashar] Assad regime over,” he said. “Even if Assad himself left, they would want to make sure that the follow-up regime protected their interest.”

 

In addition to strong economic times, Russia’s interest in Syria includes maintaining its base at Tartus, which is the only naval base it has outside the old Soviet Union.