Mark Esper
ON THE RECORD · 14 verbatim quotes · every quote source-verified
“At some point, we will reach a point where maybe both sides are willing to come to the table and find a negotiated settlement, but the challenge for president Trump will be he's going to have to get a deal that returns the Strait of Hormuz to the status quo, which is going to be really hard, and is a deal that's better than what [former President Barack Obama] got out of the JCPOA, and I think that's going to be very difficult too,”
Mark Esper · said 2026-10-08 · reported 2026-10-08
Speaking at the GZERO Summit in London, Esper discussed the challenges Trump would face in negotiating a settlement to the U.S.-Iran war.
“in the foreseeable future.”
Mark Esper · said 2026-10-08 · reported 2026-10-08
Speaking to CNBC on the sidelines of the GZERO Summit, Esper said he does not see an end to the Iran war in the foreseeable future.
“We're just not paying enough attention to the Chinese,”
Mark Esper · said 2026-10-08 · reported 2026-10-08
Esper told CNBC that the U.S. is not paying enough attention to China amid its focus on the Iran war.
“They have a game plan, and they're and they're executing it,”
Mark Esper · said 2026-10-08 · reported 2026-10-08
Esper emphasized that China has a game plan and is executing it, pointing to its domination of industries like electric vehicles and rare earths.
“China is our greatest adversary,”
Mark Esper · said 2026-10-08 · reported 2026-10-08
Esper warned that while Washington focuses on the Iran war, China is building up its capabilities as America's greatest adversary.
“I would focus our efforts on China, and I would do it in partnership with our European and Asian allies, and that would include not just military [alliances], but diplomatic, economic and technological as well.”
Mark Esper · said 2026-10-08 · reported 2026-10-08
Esper said the U.S. should focus its efforts on China in partnership with European and Asian allies across military, diplomatic, economic, and technological domains.
“the largest military buildup in history.”
Mark Esper · said 2026-10-08 · reported 2026-10-08
Esper said Beijing was continuing to build economic, technological, and diplomatic power and had executed the largest military buildup in history.
“I think it continues at this type of pace where we see the American blockade continue, we see occasional outbursts from either side, and it drags along,”
Mark Esper · said 2026-10-08 · reported 2026-10-08
Esper described to CNBC how he expects the U.S.-Iran war to continue with an American blockade and occasional outbursts from both sides.
“The challenge is that policy requires time, discipline and patience, and those aren't things that the states are typically good at doing,”
Mark Esper · said 2026-10-08 · reported 2026-10-08
Esper said his long-advocated policy of economic strangulation of Iran was vulnerable to impatience in Washington.
“So, if allowed to, I think it could have an impact. It doesn't mean it'll actually bring them back to the table, which would be my end, but it's the least worst option at this point in time.”
Mark Esper · said 2026-10-08 · reported 2026-10-08
Esper said economic strangulation of Iran could have an impact but may not bring them back to the table, calling it the least worst option.
“Certainly, since their entry into the WTO, they've used the world trading system against us to build their own economic and military power, and they have a game plan,”
Mark Esper · said 2026-10-08 · reported 2026-10-08
Esper said China has used the world trading system against the U.S. since joining the WTO to build its economic and military power.
“So the question is, will he be willing to make that deal and live with the consequences or how the critics judge that deal? And so you can see another path where it gets handed off to the next administration in 2029.”
Mark Esper · said 2026-10-08 · reported 2026-10-08
Esper questioned whether Trump would be willing to make a deal with Iran or allow the conflict to pass to the next administration.
“They've told us by 2049 they want to dominate the Indo-Pacific region and the world for all intents and purposes. They want to be able to call the shots and dictate global governance.”
Mark Esper · said 2026-10-08 · reported 2026-10-08
Esper told CNBC that China has stated its intent to dominate the Indo-Pacific and the world by 2049 and dictate global governance.
“It's the lurking threat out there that we're not paying attention to because we're so focused, and have been for 20 plus years now, on the Middle East, and Europe is focused on Russia.”
Mark Esper · said 2026-10-08 · reported 2026-10-08
Esper described China as a lurking threat that the U.S. is not paying attention to due to its focus on the Middle East.