Transcript [00:00] All eyes on the Strait of Hormuz and the [00:03] Strait of Hormuz is not just about the [00:05] Strait of Hormuz at this point. It's [00:06] really about the entire trajectory of [00:09] the war, the ceasefire, the [00:11] negotiations, where things are headed. [00:14] So, let's get right to it. We'll start [00:16] with a report from today, from just a [00:18] couple of hours ago, from Fox News. Here [00:21] we go. [00:23] Happening right now. Here we go again, a [00:25] volatile situation in the Strait of [00:27] Hormuz. Iran has once again closed the [00:31] Strait, even firing at ships trying to [00:34] cross it. President Trump reacting to [00:36] that just moments ago. [00:38] They [00:39] got a little cuter as they have been [00:40] doing for 47 years. We're talking [00:42] [snorts] to them. They wanted to close [00:44] up the Strait again, you know, as [00:47] they've been doing for years. [00:49] And they can't blackmail us. [00:51] Well, let's get to that, Ben. He is live [00:53] in Dubai with why Iran suddenly changed [00:56] its mind. Matt? [01:00] Asha, we didn't make it a full 24 hours [01:03] of the Strait of Hormuz being open and [01:05] now an intelligence official tells our [01:07] Trey Yingst that the Iranian regime has [01:10] closed the Strait again. That [01:12] intelligence official saying the Strait [01:14] of Hormuz is under full IRGC control and [01:17] effectively closed at this moment. [01:19] Multiple vessels have been forced to [01:20] turn around since this morning as they [01:22] attempted to pass through the Strait. [01:24] The IRGC opened fire on at least one [01:27] vessel as part of the closure policy [01:28] they [01:30] night. Now, yesterday around this hour [01:32] President Trump and Iranian Foreign [01:33] Minister announced that the Strait is [01:35] open, but shortly afterwards Iranian [01:37] officials started to post that Iran was [01:39] maintaining restrictions to pass through [01:41] the Strait including payments. [01:44] And also here in the Middle East, [01:45] Israel's IDF claims the 10-day ceasefire [01:47] between Israel and Lebanon is not solid [01:49] either. The IDF posting Hezbollah [01:52] ceasefire violation. Since the ceasefire [01:54] came into effect, IDF soldiers south of [01:57] the yellow line in southern Lebanon [01:58] identified several incidents in which [02:00] terrorists violated the ceasefire [02:02] understandings by approaching from north [02:04] of the yellow line towards IDF soldiers [02:06] posing an immediate threat. In order to [02:08] root the threat, the IDF conducted [02:10] precise strikes against the terrorists [02:12] and terrorist infrastructure sites. Now, [02:14] the president has said that the second [02:16] round of peace talks could possibly be [02:18] happening in Pakistan in the next day or [02:20] two, but now as Iran claims it has [02:22] control of the Strait again and is [02:24] firing at ships, it's not clear if the [02:26] two-week ceasefire, which will expire [02:28] soon, will be extended or scrapped. [02:30] Here's the president last night. [02:32] You you don't have a deal by waiting [02:35] ceasefire at two weeks. That ceasefire [02:37] was I don't know. Maybe not. Maybe I [02:40] won't extend it. [02:41] But the blockade is going to remain. [02:43] But maybe I won't extend it. So, you [02:45] have the blockade [02:47] and unfortunately we'll have to start [02:48] dropping bombs to get [02:52] So, we had these two major [02:54] announcements, the ceasefire between [02:55] Israel and Lebanon and then also the the [02:57] president saying that the Strait of [02:59] Hormuz is open. Now, both seem to be [03:01] failing. So, we are tracking hour by [03:04] hour of the possibility of the second [03:06] round of peace talks in Pakistan. We'll [03:08] keep you updated, Asha. Okay, hopefully [03:10] we get some information tonight as the [03:11] president promised. Matt Ben live for us [03:13] in Dubai. Matt, thank [03:16] Okay. [03:17] Is anybody here [03:19] surprised? [03:21] Is anyone here surprised that [03:24] that the Lebanon ceasefire is failing? I [03:26] mean, um [03:28] you know, Israel carrying out strikes [03:30] against Hezbollah, making movements in [03:32] the south. Yeah, that's what happens [03:35] with every single ceasefire. Every [03:37] single ceasefire Israel's ever had with [03:39] Hezbollah has ended with well, during [03:43] the ceasefire, what ends up happening is [03:45] Hezbollah starts violating it [03:47] and Israel strikes them. It always gets [03:50] framed as Israel violating the ceasefire [03:52] because Israel strikes Hezbollah and [03:55] what Hezbollah is doing is they're [03:56] moving weapons into place, they're [03:58] rebuilding positions, they're moving [03:59] people around, they're planning attacks. [04:01] And the ceasefire, the text of the [04:03] ceasefire agreement that was put out by [04:05] the State Department explicitly states [04:08] that Israel reserves the right [04:10] to strike if they see any attacks being [04:15] planned. Israel's not going to wait to [04:16] be attacked. Anyway, so there's no [04:18] surprise there. [04:20] Uh but let's take a look at a little bit [04:22] more about the Strait of Hormuz [04:24] situation cuz that's the real big one [04:25] here. That's what we really need to be [04:28] discussing. So, let's get So, first of [04:30] all, Iranian state media, top story [04:32] today from the Strait is fully open to a [04:35] return to full control. So, they're [04:37] they're beating their chests and crowing [04:39] about how Trump stood up and said, you [04:42] know, you know, the Strait is fully open [04:44] and now the Iranians are once again in [04:46] full control. They're all proud of [04:47] themselves. I'm not going to bother [04:48] reading this reading the piece. It's not [04:50] that interesting. [04:51] Um but also in Iranian state media we [04:54] have this. I'm sorry, whatever this is [04:56] the piece. I'm not going to read it. [04:58] Um there's no there's no point. There's [04:59] no there's nothing new in it. But they [05:01] put up this other piece a few hours [05:03] later. Third clash in the Strait of [05:05] Hormuz within two hours. Listen to this [05:06] one. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade [05:09] Operations has reported that a cruise [05:10] ship a cruise ship was targeted in an [05:13] attack east of Oman [05:15] an hour ago marking the third maritime [05:17] incident in the region within a two-hour [05:19] window. According to the UKMTO report, [05:22] an incident occurred approximately three [05:24] nautical miles east of Oman. [05:27] The captain of the cruise ship reported [05:29] seeing a water splash and surge in close [05:31] proximity to the vessel, likely caused [05:33] by a projectile impacting the water's [05:36] surface. [05:37] Less than an hour prior to this, the [05:39] organization reported that a container [05:41] ship located 25 nautical miles northeast [05:44] of Oman was struck by an unidentified [05:46] projectile. The strike reportedly caused [05:48] damage to several containers on board. [05:52] Earlier today, two Indian vessels, one [05:54] which was an oil tanker, attempted to [05:56] transit the Strait of Hormuz without [05:58] obtaining the required permits from [05:59] Iran. [06:01] The IRGC navy opened fire forcing both [06:03] ships to turn back. [06:05] The surge of incidents follows a brief [06:07] period of diplomatic de-escalation. Last [06:09] night following the Lebanon ceasefire, [06:12] Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi announced [06:14] the Strait of Hormuz would be [06:15] temporarily open for commercial vessels. [06:17] However, citing American bad faith, the [06:19] spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbiya [06:22] Central Headquarters announced this [06:23] morning that strict controls have been [06:25] reinstated. The spokesperson clarified [06:28] that the Strait of Hormuz will remain [06:30] under intense supervision and return to [06:32] its previous restricted status until the [06:34] United States ends all interference with [06:37] the free movement of vessels traveling [06:38] to and from Iran. And I mentioned um in [06:42] in a previous video that uh Chairman of [06:44] the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Dan Cain, [06:47] said at the end of his remarks a few [06:49] days ago when he was talking about the [06:50] blockade [06:52] um of the Strait by the United States, [06:53] by the blockade of Iran, that not only [06:56] is the United States blockading Iran, [06:57] essentially laying siege to Iran by [06:59] blocking all of its ports, not just the [07:01] Strait of Hormuz, [07:02] but also [07:04] doing interdictions, [07:06] uh seizing vessels that are carrying [07:09] Iranian [07:11] that originate in Iran even in the [07:13] Pacific. Meaning this is a complete [07:16] blockade of the Iranian economy. [07:18] Anyway, despite renewed tensions, marine [07:19] traffic data confirmed [07:22] that one passenger cruise ship [07:24] successfully transited the Strait of [07:26] Hormuz last night for the first time in [07:28] 47 days. That's the end of the story. [07:31] Um [07:32] Iran So, here and here's here's a fuller [07:34] treatment of it. Iran re-imposes Hormuz [07:36] closure after US maintains blockade. [07:39] IRGC gunboats fire at ships. Tehran [07:42] warns it will continue to block the [07:45] Strait as long as Trump blockades [07:46] Iran-linked shipping. [07:48] That's it. That's accurate. Iran-linked [07:50] shipping. It's not even a blockade just [07:51] of Iran. As I said, they're even doing [07:53] interdictions far away from Iran. [07:56] US president says blockade in full force [07:58] until regime reaches a deal including on [08:00] its nuclear program. Iran swiftly [08:02] reversed course on reopening the Strait [08:04] of Hormuz on Saturday, re-imposing [08:06] restrictions on the critical waterway [08:08] after the US said it would not end its [08:10] blockade of Iran-linked shipping. [08:12] Iran's joint military command said that [08:14] control of the Strait of Hormuz has [08:15] returned to its previous state under the [08:17] strict management and control of the [08:19] armed forces. Let's be very clear, by [08:21] the way. [08:22] Iran has no right to do this. This is [08:24] not their territorial waters. The Strait [08:26] of Hormuz is an international waterway, [08:29] which means no one has the right to [08:31] impose any tolls or to have any [08:33] restrictions on it. This entire thing is [08:36] terrorism. It's piracy. It's illegal. [08:39] Okay, it's mafia protection tactics. [08:42] Okay, it's all illegal. Iran's joint [08:44] military command said that fine. Yeah, [08:46] it warned that it would continue to [08:47] block transit through the Strait as long [08:49] as the US blockade of Iranian ports [08:51] remains in effect. And Trump has no has [08:53] no inclination to remove that blockade. [08:57] And and and rightly so. We'll get to [08:58] that in a bit. Commercial ships came [09:00] under fire and threats from Iran's [09:02] military as they tried to cross the [09:04] Strait of Hormuz. Security monitors said [09:05] Iran IRGC gunboats fired on a tanker in [09:08] the in the Strait northeast of Oman. The [09:11] UK [09:12] Maritime Trade Operations Center said in [09:14] an online statement adding that the [09:16] vessel and crew were safe. Vanguard [09:18] identified the tanker as the [09:19] India-flagged tanker Sanmar Herald. It [09:22] cited the captain as saying two two IRGC [09:26] patrol boats approached it with no radio [09:28] contact and shots were fired resulting [09:31] in damage to the bridge windows. They [09:33] didn't even [09:34] warn them. They just fired on them. [09:36] Vanguard said separately that the [09:37] Malta-flagged cruise ship Mine Schiff [09:41] 4 reported a splash nearby while [09:44] crossing near Oman on the far side of [09:45] the Strait from Iran. The ship confirmed [09:48] VHF radio traffic from IRGC units [09:50] saying, "We are carrying out operation. [09:52] We will fire and destroy you." But no [09:54] damage was reported. That's [snorts] [09:56] That just sums up Iran's entire entire [09:59] military. We will fire and destroy you, [10:01] but no damage was reported. In the third [10:03] incident, UKMTO said that it also [10:05] received a report of a container ship in [10:07] the same area being hit by an unknown [10:09] projectile, which caused damage to some [10:11] of the containers, but no fire. So, [10:12] they're firing on ships. They're doing [10:14] it. [10:15] Hours earlier, speaking to reporters, US [10:17] President Donald Trump had cited some [10:18] pretty good news about Iran, declining [10:20] to elaborate, but he also said fighting [10:22] might resume without a peace deal by [10:24] Wednesday when a 2-week ceasefire [10:26] expires. On Friday evening, he had [10:28] posted on Truth Social that Iran has [10:30] agreed never to close the Strait of [10:32] Hormuz again, and which the Iranians [10:34] then, of course, that's what they were [10:35] crowing about here, that we went from [10:37] the strait is fully open to return to [10:39] full control, and then trying to make [10:40] Trump look like a fool for saying that [10:42] it was totally open. [10:43] Um [10:45] The ongoing conflict over the strait has [10:47] threatened to deepen the energy crisis [10:49] roiling the global economy after oil [10:51] prices began to fall again on Friday on [10:54] hopes that the US and Iran were drawing [10:55] closer to an agreement. [10:57] And then it mentions again uh how much [10:59] oil passes through there. [11:02] Early Saturday, a convoy of oil tankers [11:04] was observed crossing the Strait of [11:05] Hormuz, the first major movement of [11:07] ships in the crucial waterway since the [11:09] US and Israel launched their war 7 weeks [11:12] ago. The convoy with that the convoy was [11:15] seen departing the Gulf and transiting [11:17] the waterway, vessel tracking data [11:19] shows. [11:20] The group comprised four uh liquefied [11:23] petroleum gas carriers and several oil [11:25] product and chemical tankers with more [11:27] tankers following from the Gulf, [11:29] according to marine traffic data. [11:32] Control over the strait has proven to be [11:33] one of Iran's main points of leverage, [11:36] really their only one, and prompted the [11:37] United States to deploy forces and [11:39] initiate a blockade on Iranian ports as [11:42] part of an effort to force Iran to [11:44] accept a Pakistan-brokered ceasefire to [11:47] end almost 7 weeks of war that has raged [11:49] between Israel, the US, and Iran. [11:52] Um Iran said earlier this week that it's [11:55] fully reopened the Strait of Hormuz to [11:56] commercial vessels after a 10-day truce [11:58] was announced between Israel and the [12:00] Iranian-backed Hezbollah terror group in [12:02] Lebanon. [12:03] An end to Israel's war conflict with [12:05] Hezbollah reignited when the [12:07] Lebanon-based terror group resumed [12:08] rocket and drone attacks on Israel was a [12:10] key demand of Iranian negotiators who [12:13] previously accused Israel of breaking [12:14] the ceasefire with strikes on Lebanon. [12:17] Israel had said that the Iran truce did [12:19] not cover Lebanon. [12:21] Um but then Trump [12:24] uh [12:25] Then, of course, Trump said, "No, Israel [12:27] should stop." Um so, is you know, should [12:30] should ceasefire in Lebanon. [12:32] And [12:36] Yeah. [12:38] Okay. Meanwhile, Trump on Saturday [12:39] flatly rejected the idea of Iran [12:41] imposing restrictions or tolls on the [12:43] strait when asked by a reporter on Air [12:45] Force One, of course. [12:46] "Nope, no way. Nope, nope." Trump said. [12:49] "There There're not going to be tolls. [12:50] Of course, there can't be. It's illegal. [12:52] It's illegal. Opening the Strait of [12:54] Hormuz just means opening an [12:55] international waterway. It's not [12:56] Iran's." [12:58] Despite the escalation in the Strait of [12:59] Hormuz, Pakistani officials say the [13:01] United States and Iran are moving closer [13:02] to a deal [13:04] ahead of the April 22nd ceasefire [13:06] deadline. And you saw in that clip there [13:07] that Trump said, "I'm not sure if I'm [13:08] going to extend the dead the deadline. [13:10] We might have to start dropping bombs [13:11] again." [13:12] Things could be ramping up in that [13:14] direction with Iran now closing the [13:15] Strait of Hormuz [13:17] um and the blockade still on. See, [13:21] here's what's going on. This blockade is [13:23] killing the Iranians. [13:25] It's [13:26] And Tru- And Trump is refusing to stop [13:28] the blockade, which is correct. I'll get [13:29] to that in a bit, but they're So, in [13:32] their panic, they're trying to push back [13:35] and uh by retaking control of the Strait [13:38] of Hormuz because they had given up a [13:40] point of leverage that they had by [13:42] opening it, and they're like, "Why did [13:43] we give up that point of leverage if [13:44] we're still being choked out by this [13:46] blockade? Let's retake the Strait of [13:48] Hormuz, and then it can be hopefully a [13:50] negotiating point again." It's going to [13:51] backfire on them. [13:53] But, nothing's working for them because [13:55] they're losing. Even though [13:57] even though mediators were optimistic, [13:58] it was unclear to what extent Hezbollah [14:00] would abide by a truce that did not play [14:02] a role in negotiating, and which would [14:04] leave Israeli troops deployed in part in [14:06] parts of southern Lebanon. Trump said in [14:08] another post that Israel is prohibited [14:10] by the US from further strikes. Uh [14:12] enough is enough. [14:13] In the Israel-Hezbollah war, the US [14:15] State Department said the prohibition [14:16] applies only to offensive attacks and [14:19] not to actions taken by Israel in [14:21] self-defense. It goes beyond that, [14:22] actually. The State Department [14:24] uh statement actually said it's not only [14:26] self-defense, but it's also any if they [14:28] see anything being planned, any planned [14:31] attack is also is also included, right? [14:35] We can even find that here. [14:37] Let's go to the State Department. [14:42] The State Department uh [14:44] Here, let's go to that press release. [14:46] In the State Department, just so we see [14:47] it. Okay, there's the [14:52] Let's find it. [14:54] It's worth It's worth looking at again [14:55] cuz it's so important. Whenever we're [14:56] talking about this Lebanon ceasefire [14:59] Here. [15:00] Here it is. This is the This is the [15:02] official State Department statement [15:04] about the Lebanon ceasefire, and these [15:06] are the stipulations. [15:08] Um and look what it says here. "Israel [15:10] shall preserve its right to take all [15:12] necessary measures in self-defense at [15:14] any time against planned [15:17] imminent or ongoing attacks." Including [15:19] So, planned attacks. [15:21] They can They can uh [15:24] They can strike against. [15:26] Okay? So, that's what Israel's doing. [15:29] Again, that always gets framed as Israel [15:31] violating the ceasefire because what's [15:33] if if something's being planned, [15:35] nothing's being fired, and then Israel [15:37] strikes it, it looks like Israel Israel [15:39] shot first. [15:41] Well, they did shoot first, but and and [15:43] therefore it's not considered by the [15:45] outside world as self-defense. But, so [15:47] that's what's been happening in Lebanon. [15:49] And live updates, two Indian ships come [15:51] under fire in Strait of Hormuz after [15:54] Iran reasserts control. [15:56] Trump responded and said they got a [15:59] little cute. We saw that in that clip. [16:01] Um [16:03] Israel is preparing for the possibility [16:05] that the talks will collapse and the [16:06] situation in the strait will escalate, a [16:08] sort a source told the Kan. That's a an [16:11] Israeli public broadcaster. [16:13] Uh Iran said Saturday that control of [16:15] the Strait of Hormuz has returned to its [16:17] previous [16:18] state under strict management and [16:20] control of the armed forces. [16:23] Okay. And Iran's Supreme National [16:25] Security Council said it had present had [16:27] had been presented with new American [16:29] proposals during a recent visit by [16:31] Pakistan's army chief, who was serving [16:33] as an intermediary with Washington. The [16:35] council did not reveal what was in the [16:36] proposals, but said that they were still [16:38] under review. [16:41] Um Iran fired on at least two tankers. [16:43] We saw that. [16:45] And briefing reporters at the White [16:46] House, Trump downplayed the situation, [16:48] insisting the dialogue with Iran is [16:50] still working out really well despite [16:51] the closure of the strait. [16:54] And he said, "We're talking to them. [16:55] We'll have some information before the [16:57] end of the day." [16:59] Um [17:03] Yeah. Okay, there we go. [17:05] And [17:07] Oh, here we go. This is important. [17:11] Egypt and Pakistan were working very [17:12] hard as mediators to bring about the [17:14] final agreement between the United [17:16] States and Iran. [17:18] Uh we hope to do so in the coming days. [17:20] This is Egypt's foreign minister, [17:21] Abdellati. [17:23] He says, "We We are put We hope to do so [17:25] in the coming days. Not only we in the [17:27] region, but the whole world is suffering [17:29] from the continuation of this war. We [17:30] are pushing very hard to move forward. [17:33] Pakistan is expected to host the second [17:35] round of talks between Iran and the [17:36] United States early next week." Speaking [17:38] to journalists on the sidelines of the [17:40] Antalya conference on Saturday, Iran's [17:43] deputy foreign minister, Saeed [17:45] Khatibzadeh, said that no date has been [17:48] set for the next round of talks in [17:49] Islamabad after the failure of the first [17:51] round. "No date has been set. [17:53] Until we agree on the framework, we [17:55] cannot set the date. There was [17:56] significant progress made, actually, but [17:58] the maximalist approach by the other [18:00] side trying to make Iran an exception [18:02] from international law prevented us to [18:04] reach an agreement." Of course, you're [18:05] an exception from international law. [18:06] You're a rogue state. You're a state [18:08] sponsor of terror, and Trump is trying [18:11] to take you down. Of course, he's not [18:13] treating you like a legitimate actor. [18:15] Okay. [snorts] [18:17] I had to be very crystal clear that Iran [18:18] would not accept to be an exception from [18:20] the international law. Anything that we [18:22] are going to be committed to will be [18:23] within the international regulations and [18:25] international law. These are people who [18:27] who [18:28] who like destroy other countries, but [18:31] whatever. Asked about reports that Iran [18:33] had again closed the Strait of Hormuz on [18:34] Saturday after its temporary reopening, [18:37] uh Khatibzadeh said Iran had announced [18:39] it would allow safe passage of [18:41] commercial vessels in line with the [18:42] terms of the truce. The other side, the [18:44] American side, tried to sabotage that by [18:47] saying that it is open except for [18:48] Iranians. So, that was the reason we [18:50] said that if you are going to violate [18:52] the ceasefire terms and conditions, if [18:54] Americans are not going to honor their [18:55] words, there will be repercussions for [18:57] them. [18:58] Um [19:02] Yeah, they're trying to scramble and and [19:05] get a ceasefire back going. [19:07] So, bottom line is this, everyone. [19:10] Um the [19:14] The Straits of Hormuz are closed. [19:16] Iran is playing this game. [19:18] But, here's the here's the thing about [19:19] the blockade. [19:21] The blockade by the US of Iran is a [19:24] siege. It is siege warfare. And that [19:27] means that the Iranian economy is [19:29] getting completely strangled. [19:31] Let's also add that [19:34] there's a lot of money that Iran makes [19:36] off the Strait of Hormuz, and they're [19:37] not making that money. [19:39] They're losing hundreds of millions. I [19:41] think I think the the estimated number [19:43] is about $400 million [19:45] a day [19:47] by this situation, plus because of the [19:50] the of Hormuz, plus the blockade [19:52] um on their country, which is [19:54] essentially a siege. [19:56] And the And the reason this is so [19:57] important to keep this in place and to [19:59] not remove the blockade during the [20:00] negotiations is that is because of how [20:02] the Iranians negotiate. This is a key [20:04] point. [20:06] The Iranians are phenomenal negotiators. [20:08] Uh they always have been. [20:10] You know, these are the Persians. And [20:12] when And one of their key tactics [20:15] is to always [20:17] prolong and prolong and prolong the the [20:20] negotiations. Just keep them going and [20:22] keep them going and keep them going [20:23] because the way Westerners generally [20:25] behave is that while they're negotiating [20:28] while they're negotiating, they don't [20:30] attack. Number one. Number two, the way [20:33] Westerners are is that the longer [20:35] negotiations go on, the more antsy the [20:38] Westerners get to finally reach a deal. [20:40] And they become more amenable to making [20:43] concessions on points that they weren't [20:45] originally going to make a concession on [20:47] if you talk to them longer. It's a [20:48] strange psychology because, you know, [20:49] you're talking to people. They have [20:50] their demands, and then you keep [20:51] talking, you keep talking, you keep [20:52] talking. [20:54] And then eventually it's like, you know, [20:55] is Is there anything in this that you [20:57] can you know, if if you just change [20:59] this, then we can make a deal. Now, that [21:00] might not be something that someone [21:02] would agree to in the initial stages of [21:03] the conversation, but once the [21:04] negotiations have been going on for [21:06] weeks and months, [21:07] they they start dropping different [21:10] demands because they want to cut a deal [21:12] already. [21:14] And it it's [21:15] This is what the This is what the [21:16] Iranians do, and Trump is having none of [21:18] it. And that's why [21:20] when J.D. Vance first met with them, [21:22] first negotiated with them and it fell [21:24] apart, you might remember in his [21:25] statement, he said, "We gave them our [21:28] last and best final offer." Meaning like [21:31] there's there's nothing going to change. [21:33] And Trump said after that also that he [21:35] instructed his people that he doesn't [21:36] want 90 or 95% [21:39] of his demands. He wants 100% of his [21:41] demands met. And he puts a blockade on. [21:43] So, all of this is a way of saying to [21:45] the Persians, saying to the Iranian [21:46] mullahs, [21:48] "We're not playing your game." [21:49] The blockade means that time is on [21:52] America's side, not Iran's. So, [21:54] prolonging negotiations doesn't help [21:56] Iran in this situation because there's a [21:57] blockade on them. Every day they're [21:59] getting choked. [22:00] So, it accelerates negotiations, which [22:02] is what they don't want. And also, by [22:04] reiterating over and over again, by the [22:07] Americans reiterating that nothing that [22:10] 100% of their demands must be met, and [22:12] the offer they made is is all their [22:14] conditions must be met, and they're not [22:15] going to budge on any of them, [22:18] also is a winning strategy against the [22:20] Persians. Now, that doesn't mean that [22:21] the Americans have handled this [22:22] perfectly. They did give in on the [22:24] Lebanon thing. [22:25] Even though the Americans are insisting [22:27] that the Lebanon ceasefire has nothing [22:29] to do with the Iranian negotiations, [22:30] nobody's buying that. And there's no [22:33] reason to buy that. It's not It's not [22:35] real. Okay, obviously they're connected. [22:37] The Iranians are insisting they're [22:38] connected. [22:39] And it's pretty clear that that's where [22:41] this came from. Why else would Trump be [22:42] telling Israel to stop fighting the [22:44] Iranian front in Lebanon and stop [22:46] degrading Hezbollah, who's been [22:48] attacking Israel? Why would they Why [22:50] would he do that? Obviously, he wanted [22:52] uh he wanted it you know, to keep the [22:54] ceasefire deal and the and the opening [22:56] of Hormuz together, uh which is which [22:58] were things that he had uh you know, [23:00] that he had achieved out with Iran and [23:02] the negotiations going on. It's obvious. [23:05] Okay, so that was a win for the [23:06] Iranians. [23:07] But uh this blockade is critical. So [23:10] long as this blockade is on, I'm hopeful [23:12] that this is going to that this is [23:13] moving in the right direction. [23:15] If there's any easing up of the [23:16] blockade, that's where we have to worry [23:19] that the Americans are losing their [23:20] nerve. So, that's what to look for in [23:22] the days ahead. All right, folks. Thanks [23:24] for watching. Please like, subscribe. [23:26] Please drop a comment. Let me know what [23:27] you know, what you think. [23:29] Give me some constructive criticism. If [23:30] you see some things that I could change. [23:32] I've been told a few times that I get a [23:34] little too repetitive in these videos. [23:35] I'm trying to work on that. If you have [23:37] any other suggestions, I'm happy to hear [23:38] them. God bless you.
