There is little chance of Iran ever giving up their control over the Strait of Hormuz, Dr. Raz Zimmt, head of the Iran program at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), told 103FM on Sunday morning.
“The Iranians see Hormuz as their most significant strategic achievement," he added. "American recognition of Iranian control over the strait, in one form or another, would mean not only that the Iranians determine the arrangements, but that at some point they would also be able to charge something.
That 'something,' Zimmt said, could be defined in several ways, such as "Service fees, environmental fees, or various other ideas. But it is completely clear that the Americans will apparently be prepared to recognize a change in the status quo in the strait.”
Iran unwilling to compromise, expert says
Zimmt rejected the argument that Iran would be willing to compromise.
“There is no doubt that the Iranians are reading, just like everyone else, the reports being published both here and in the US about the shortage of interceptors and the reluctance of the US military leadership to return to war, and it is clear that they will take advantage of that," he explained.
“In recent weeks, the Iranians have been conducting negotiations not with the Americans, but with the Omanis, over arrangements that would allow the Strait of Hormuz to reopen. That, of course, does not mean that the Iranians are withdrawing any of the demands that formed the basis of the memorandum of understanding.
“The memorandum of understanding stipulated that, alongside the Iranians reopening the strait, the Americans themselves would take measures such as releasing some of the frozen Iranian assets, easing sanctions on oil exports, and lifting the naval blockade. The Iranians demanded this from the outset. From their perspective, the Americans violated the memorandum of understanding, and now they are demanding additional concessions.”