Jeffrey Price: Johns Hopkins Foreign Policy Analyst on the latest developments between the US and Iran

Johns Hopkins foreign policy analyst Jeffrey Pryce is sceptical of US President Donald Trump’s claim that an agreement in the Middle East is approved and ready to be signed. 

Speaking to Francesca Rudkin, Pryce pointed to the extensive demands in a proposed Memorandum of Understanding from several weeks ago, which did not progress. 

That MoU had included a permanent ceasefire, likely including Lebanon; the opening of the Strait of Hormuz and removal of the US naval blockade; and the beginning of nuclear negotiations, possibly including progress on unfreezing Iranian assets or lifting sanctions on Iran.  

There was also a push for the Gulf states to sign the Abraham Accords – all of which was “a lot to put into an agreement”. 

Pryce did agree with Trump that the Iranian decision-making progress could be very extended. 

“Things have to be brought up to the Supreme Leader, who is by all accounts severely injured, and they have a sort of a long, painstaking process of decision making. So it's possible that we're getting closer to a deal.” 

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