Retired Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery urged President Trump to keep the U.S. response to Iran proportionate by targeting only military sites [1].
The advice comes as the U.S. navigates a volatile security environment following the downing of an American Apache helicopter. The strategy aims to prevent a broader regional conflict by limiting the scope of retaliation [1].
Montgomery said in a televised interview minutes before U.S. Central Command announced it had begun "self-defense" strikes against Iran [1]. He said the administration should avoid hitting economic targets, as such actions could further escalate the conflict [1].
By focusing exclusively on military assets tied to the attack, Montgomery said the U.S. can demonstrate resolve without triggering a total economic or diplomatic collapse in the region [1, 2]. This approach emphasizes the necessity of a measured response to ensure that military objectives are met without inadvertently expanding the war [1].
The timing of the admiral's warning coincided with the immediate commencement of CENTCOM operations [1]. The tension between the need for a decisive military response and the risk of uncontrolled escalation remains a central challenge for the current administration [1, 3].
“Keep the U.S. response to Iran proportionate”
The call for a proportionate response highlights the strategic tension between deterrence and escalation management. By advising against economic targets, military experts are suggesting that the U.S. should signal strength through kinetic military action while leaving diplomatic and economic doors open to prevent a full-scale war.
