Shahram Khaledi, a researcher on Middle Eastern history and international relations, said that if the American side really considered the Strait of Hormuz to be an effective lever, it would have accepted parts of the conditions of the Islamic Republic by now, including reducing the presence of American forces and lifting sanctions.

He added that the United States wants the disruption in the Strait of Hormuz to stop and says that negotiations can proceed step by step, with verification, toward building the Islamic Republic’s trust.