Expert analyses and reviews
Middle East and military affairs expert Houshang Hassanyari stated that the entry of American ships into the region for minesweeping indicates the United States' intent to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and escalate the conflict to a new stage.
The Jerusalem Post published an analytical note questioning why the Iranian regime's use of citizens, including children, as human shields during military operations has received less attention compared to criticism of "war crimes" against former U.S. President Donald Trump. The article also addresses recent missile attacks and their impact on civilians, referencing potential charges of "crimes against humanity" against the regime.
The article discusses the impacts of Ayatollah Khamenei's removal on Iran-US negotiations, featuring a perspective from Mehdi Mahdavi-Azadi. The full discussion is available on YouTube at https://youtu.be/QpkaK3zos9A.
The Tasnim News Agency, affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, reported that American negotiators made "excessive demands" during text exchanges following expert-level talks, leading to "serious disagreements" over the Strait of Hormuz.
On the eve of the Tehran-Washington talks in Islamabad, the Wall Street Journal reports that Iran still possesses thousands of ballistic missiles, contradicting claims by former President Donald Trump that U.S. attacks have obliterated Iran's military capabilities. The Washington Post highlights the significant differences between the two sides' positions, while CNN focuses on the political implications for U.S. negotiator J.D. Vance.
Adam Weinstein, a Middle East expert at the Quincy Institute, states that Iranians are negotiating due to significant damage they have sustained, aiming to leverage control over the Strait of Hormuz to sell their oil, trusting this strategic location more than American influence.
In the past 24 hours, ship tracking data shows that most vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz are associated with the Islamic Republic of Iran, including a very large crude carrier with a capacity of 2 million barrels, a smaller tanker, a bunker tanker, and four dry bulk carriers, one of which is carrying iron ore from Iran to China.
Ruhollah Rahimpour, a journalist and political analyst, stated that Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who is part of a faction within the IRGC base focused on preserving the system, is willing to reduce tensions and pursue diplomacy.
The announced ceasefire in the war between the United States and Israel with Iran has led to an immediate reduction in oil prices, though economic experts warn that the extensive damage to the global economy over the past 40 days makes a full return to pre-war economic conditions unlikely.
During a closed-door meeting, U.S. President Donald Trump discussed the possibility of withdrawing from NATO due to dissatisfaction with the alliance's lack of support in the war with Iran, according to the White House. This comes amid a two-week ceasefire agreement between the U.S. and Iran, which has strained relations within NATO.
Pete Hegseth stated that Mojtaba Khamenei had no choice but to agree, describing the U.S. military operation codenamed "Epic Wrath" as a "historic and decisive victory on the battlefield" that was "a complete military victory in every respect."
Regime officials and government-affiliated experts in Iran have warned of potential operations by American supporters in Iran, despite a ceasefire between the Islamic Republic and the United States, indicating that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) will continue its conflict with the Iranian people. (Report by Mojtaba Pourmahsoun)
