Dan Hoffman questions Iran’s readiness to negotiate a deal
Former CIA Chief of Station Dan Hoffman discusses the potential Iran deal, expressing doubt about its sincerity. He highlights U.S. army strikes, sanctions and blockades as key leverage factors. Hoffman questions whether or not Iran’s latest ‘maximalist calls for’ point out a real need for a breakthrough after intense stress.
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U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz stated Gulf allies are backing President Donald Trump’s blockade and financial stress marketing campaign towards Iran, telling Fox Information Digital after a visit to Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and the UK that regional leaders consider Tehran is feeling the ache.
Waltz spoke to Fox Information Digital on Thursday night shortly after touchdown again in america, as reports of a possible deal with Iran started to emerge. He stated the scenario was nonetheless shifting by the hour, noting that Iran had launched one other strike on Bahrain shortly after he left the area.
Waltz, the highest-level U.S. official to go to the area for the reason that battle started, stated Gulf companions strongly help the administration’s efforts to maintain stress on Iran by each the blockade and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s “Operation Financial Fury.”
SCOTT BESSENT SAYS IRAN UNDERSTANDS ‘BRUTE FORCE’ AS TRUMP WEIGHS OPTIONS AMID NUCLEAR STANDOFF
US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz is joined by Ambassador Jamal Fares Alrowaiei of Bahrain (left), Everlasting Consultant of the United Arab Emirates Mohamed Issa Abushahab,(proper) and different Gulf states ambassadors as he speaks to reporters after the passing of a U.N. Safety Council draft decision on the scenario with ships within the Strait of Hormuz on Might 7, 2026 in New York Metropolis. (Spencer Platt/Getty Photographs)
“They very a lot help the blockade,” Waltz stated, including that allies shared with him “in a variety of methods” how Bessent’s financial marketing campaign is affecting the regime. The stress marketing campaign, Waltz stated, is designed to squeeze Tehran whereas Trump continues negotiations geared toward stopping Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
On Friday, an unnamed U.S. official informed reporters in a briefing: “We do count on to be signing this settlement with Iran over the following few days. We assess it at 85%, however not 100%. We really feel excellent in regards to the deal. We’re not fairly on the end line, however we’re very shut”
Waltz stated, “The UAE, particularly, believes that it’s a must to preserve that stress and a really credible stress,” he informed Fox Information Digital. “That’s what the Iranians perceive and reply to.”
Waltz stated leaders within the area validated U.S. assessments that Iran’s financial system is deteriorating below the mixed weight of sanctions, army stress and isolation. He stated Iran’s foreign money is “tanking,” overseas foreign money reserves are working out, inflation is continuous to rise and the regime is struggling to pay the army, authorities staff and police.
TRUMP’S ‘ECONOMIC FURY’ SQUEEZES IRAN — BUT CAN TEHRAN OUTLAST THE PRESSURE?
An Emirates plane flies previous plumes of smoke from a hearth close to Dubai Worldwide Airport in Dubai on March 16, 2026, following missile and drone assaults throughout the UAE. (AFP/Getty Photographs)
“I believe the regime goes to be more and more determined,” Waltz stated, including that Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Scott Bessent, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would use that stress “to their benefit.”
Within the UAE, Waltz met with President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed and the overseas minister, describing the Emiratis as among the many most lively regional companions towards Iran. “There may be zero daylight,” Waltz stated.
Waltz added the UAE has “each the aptitude and the need” to behave, and stated the Emiratis are ready to take “short-term ache” to realize the longer-term objective of blocking Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
The UAE has been hit arduous throughout the battle. Waltz stated the nation had taken “by far probably the most missiles, probably the most drones, probably the most hits,” however had moved rapidly to restore harm and restore operations.
Aftermath of an Iranian missile strike on a Navy fifth Fleet set up in Bahrain is proven above. (Stringer/Anadolu by way of Getty Photographs)
Waltz additionally pointed to the Abraham Accords as a major issue within the UAE’s posture, saying the nation’s rising partnership with Israel has develop into an “vital shift” within the regional alignment towards Iran.
Bahrain was one other central cease on Waltz’s journey. The nation hosts the headquarters of the U.S. Fifth Fleet and has been immediately uncovered to Iran’s assaults and threats across the Strait of Hormuz.
MIKE WALTZ PUSHES UN RESOLUTION TO STOP IRAN MINING KEY GLOBAL SHIPPING ROUTE
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Michael Waltz speaks at an emergency Safety Council assembly on the scenario in Iran at United Nations headquarters on Feb. 28, 2026 in New York Metropolis. (Spencer Platt/Getty Photographs)
“Till you go and actually sit with them, you may’t respect what a powerful ally they’re,” Waltz stated.
He stated U.S. and allied groups in Bahrain are working with international delivery corporations, native delivery officers, insurance coverage corporations and different maritime actors because the U.S. seeks to maintain vessels shifting by the Strait of Hormuz, one of many world’s most vital power chokepoints.
Waltz accused Iran of constructing a “phenomenally unhealthy choice” by attacking its neighbors, together with inns, port services and power infrastructure. Throughout one go to to a petroleum website, he stated he noticed proof that Iran had focused fireplace suppression techniques and first responders earlier than placing storage tanks, in an obvious effort to maximise harm.
A billboard depicting Iran’s supreme leaders since 1979: (L to R) Ayatollahs Ruhollah Khomeini (till 1989), Ali Khamenei (till 2026), and Mojtaba Khamenei (incumbent) is displayed above a freeway in Tehran on March 10, 2026. Iran marked the appointment of Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei to exchange his father as its supreme chief on March 9, 2026. (AFP/By way of Getty Photographs)
“The Iranians have been intentionally concentrating on fireplace suppression techniques,” Waltz stated. “They have been intentionally concentrating on first responders first.”
Regardless of the strikes, Waltz stated allied air defenses have had “over a 90% success price” in capturing down Iranian missiles and drones, with U.S. forces working “hand in glove” with Gulf companions.
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Waltz ended his journey in the UK, the place he stated officers have been robust companions on the U.N. Safety Council on Iran. He acknowledged “hiccups” and “velocity bumps” over basing and entry points, however stated a lot of these considerations had been “smoothed over.”
“Once we’re working to maintain the Iranians remoted diplomatically,” Waltz stated, “they’ve been excellent to work with.”
