Washington Waits and Waits: But Iran Has Already Moved On

Dr. Raz Zimmt, head of the Iran program at INSS, said on 103FM that Iran will not give up control of the Strait of Hormuz, and that the Americans may recognize the change in the status quo. He claimed that the Iranians are negotiating with the Omanis, not with the Americans, and are demanding further concessions after the Americans violated the memorandum of understanding.

Dr. Raz Zimmt, head of the Iran program at the INSS, was interviewed this morning (Sunday) on 103FM and expressed a pessimistic forecast regarding the situation with Iran. Zimmt said he sees no chance that the Iranians will give up control of the Strait of Hormuz, which he says they view as their most significant strategic achievement. He assessed that the Americans would be willing to recognize the change in the status quo in the strait, which would allow the Iranians to collect various payments, such as service fees or environmental fees. Zimmt claimed that in recent weeks the Iranians have been conducting negotiations with the Omanis, not with the Americans, on arrangements for opening the strait, but have not backed down from the demands that underpinned the memorandum of understanding. He noted that the memorandum stipulated that the Americans would release some of the frozen Iranian assets, ease sanctions on oil exports, and lift the naval blockade, but the Iranians claim that the Americans violated the agreement and therefore demand further concessions.

Washington Waits and Waits: But Iran Has Already Moved On