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Iran Bets Control over Strait of Hormuz Can Force Trump to Bend
(Times of Israel) Joseph Krauss and Amir-Hussein Radjy - Iran's leaders are betting that their own victory is at hand, that they will ultimately force the U.S. to accept their control over the Strait of Hormuz, and that time is on their side. Mahdi Mohammadi, an adviser to Iran's chief negotiator, posted on social media: "Iran is going after the enemy's defeat - not an agreement." Iran has repeatedly said the Strait of Hormuz will not go back to being an open waterway, and that it will keep attacking ships trying to transit without its permission. Formal control over even part of the strait would be a clear win for Iran and a loss for the U.S. It would also deal a blow to global norms on freedom of navigation and set a precedent that much of the world would find disturbing - that nations can shut down trade choke points at will. Rahman Ghahremanpour, an Iran-based analyst, noted that Iran's resilience has limits. "Iran cannot continue with this strategy forever, and at a certain point, in reality, it has to reach a deal with America."