“It’s tragic to lose American lives, but this is a mission that will save countless lives going forward,” Wright told ABC’s “This Week.”

Wright said the administration remains focused on preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, weakening its ability to attack neighboring countries and keeping oil and gas moving through the Strait of Hormuz.

“The president is always looking for the diplomatic off-ramp,” Wright said. “But it takes two parties to do that.”

He added that nearly 14 million barrels of oil per day are now leaving the Arabian Gulf region through the strait and bypass pipelines, roughly two-thirds of pre-war levels.