President Donald Trump’s move to cut off negotiations with Iran and impose a naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz is being framed by some Republican leaders as a decisive show of strength, with former Rep. Pete King saying the United States has already secured victory and must now press its advantage.

Speaking Sunday on Newsmax’s “Wake Up America Weekend,” King welcomed the end of diplomatic talks, arguing they had yielded no progress. “Well, first, I’m glad that they called off the talks,” the New York Republican said. “They were going nowhere. To me, this was all just a subterfuge by Iran.”

King said Trump avoided being drawn into prolonged negotiations that would have benefited Tehran. He added that he would “give the president credit for not falling into a trap of endless negotiations, endless extensions.”

Declaring the outcome of the conflict, King said, “The fact is that the United States military has won this war,” and emphasized that continued pressure is necessary moving forward.

He said the immediate priorities should be reopening the Strait of Hormuz while continuing to address Iran’s nuclear activities. “To me, the main issue now is to reopen the strait and then work on the nuclear enrichment. But we cannot in any way accept the status quo,” King said.

King also argued that the blockade sends a broader signal to the international community, highlighting the global implications of the crisis. “I think sending a message that this is just not a United States issue. This does affect the entire world, and it has to be addressed,” he said. “I think the president is dramatically emphasizing that by us doing the blockading.”

He added that ensuring free navigation through the strait must remain a central objective while encouraging allied participation. “I think we have to begin the process to clear it and to make sure that there’s free access, freedom of waterways at the Strait of Hormuz,” he said. “But no, I think it is important that the president is bringing in the other nations, realizing it’s not just us, it’s everyone being affected by this.”

Responding to Iranian officials who have questioned U.S. credibility, King rejected those claims outright. “That’s typical of Iran. It’s absolute nonsense,” he said. “The fact is that for 47 years, they’ve been at war with us. They’ve threatened to destroy us, destroy Israel. Everything is going in that direction. Their word cannot be taken at all.”

Former Rep. Jack Kingston of Georgia offered a different perspective, suggesting Trump’s tone could open the door to broader international cooperation. “You know, I’m moving in the opposite direction. I feel like this is a tone that’s a lot different than it was a week ago,” Kingston said. “The president is kind of speaking more the language of the U.N. or NATO, our European allies.”

Kingston said the shift in messaging may resonate with key Western partners and encourage them to get involved. “I think this is the kind of language that France and Germany and Great Britain can respond to, and they are slowly moving toward helping us out and realizing that we are helping them out,” he said. “So I think that the president has made more of an international appeal with this sort of tone.”

He concluded by stressing the need for a unified global response to the situation. “I do think it is time for the nations of the world to unite, say, OK, listen, let’s agree. Iran is a thug nation. The Gulf of Hormuz is relevant to all of us. Energy certainly is. Free commerce is. Let’s all cooperate,” Kingston said.