Iran’s nuclear and missile setbacks buy US and Israel time - FDD

An opinion piece on Jerusalem Post on Saturday argues that Iran is using delay tactics in negotiations with the United States, turning diplomatic efforts into a drawn-out process marked by repeated cycles of partial progress and renewed ambiguity.

The article said Iranian officials often indicate movement toward agreement in talks while avoiding final commitments, creating what it describes as a pattern of calculated delay designed to extend negotiations and improve leverage.

Iranian lawmaker Abbas Golroo, a member of parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, said on Saturday Iran cannot trust the United States or reach a lasting agreement with it.

“The main question is whether the US can be trusted. The clear answer is no. Can a sustainable understanding be reached with the US? The answer is also no,” he said.

“We are all passengers on one ship, and we must trust the decisions made within the system’s structure," Golroo added.

Former IRGC Navy commander Hossein Alaei said in an interview he warned Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani three days before the recent war that the US and Israel’s plan was to start another conflict by targeting Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

According to Alaei, Shamkhani responded: “They cannot find Khamenei.”

Iran’s state TV on Saturday released details of what it said was an unofficial draft of the Islamabad agreement, saying the text would give Tehran broad authority over traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and require the United States to provide Iran full access to $12 billion in frozen assets within 60 days.

The report said one of the most important parts of the draft is the “redefinition of navigation rules” in the Strait of Hormuz, with Iran designated as the “exclusive authority” to determine the nature of passing vessels.

Under the reported text, any vessel whose cargo is deemed threatening, or whose final beneficiary is considered hostile to Iran, “will not be recognized as a commercial ship” and would not be allowed to use designated routes.

Iranian state TV said the draft also gives Tehran authority over routes, navigation service fees, security arrangements and costs related to repairing environmental damage.

Each vessel would be required to provide information to a relevant naval center and complete forms detailing its cargo, ownership and destination, according to the report. The information would be used to assess whether a vessel poses a threat and could allow physical inspection if needed.

The report said the draft also includes a financial provision under which Washington would commit to giving Iran full access to $12 billion of its blocked assets within 60 days.

The funds would be “transferable and spendable” in destination banks chosen by Iran “without restrictions,” according to the unofficial text cited by Iranian state TV.

Iranian state TV said the text remains an “informal understanding” and is still subject to review, negotiation and revision.

The US military confirmed on Saturday that its forces disabled a Gambia-flagged vessel in the Gulf of Oman after it ignored more than 20 warnings and attempted to sail toward an Iranian port in violation of Washington’s blockade.

US Central Command said its forces observed the M/V Lian Star transiting international waters toward an Iranian port on May 29 and repeatedly warned the vessel that it was violating the US blockade.

After the crew failed to comply, a US aircraft fired a Hellfire missile into the ship’s engine room, disabling the vessel and stopping it from continuing toward Iran, according to CENTCOM.

The US military said its forces have now disabled five commercial vessels and redirected 116 others as part of efforts to fully enforce the blockade while a ceasefire with Iran remains in effect.