Fawaz Gerges

Inflation now, the annual inflation is 4.2.

Before the war, it was 3.2.

I mean, Americans really care a great deal about their pocketbook like most of us in the world.

So I think he was trying to reassure the American electorate and also tried to bring down the costs of energy.

But at the end of the day, it seems to me that Iran thinks that it has leveraged.

Iran has prolonged President Trump's strategic predicament and pains.

So really, in a way, regardless of what happens, I think Iran will most likely emerge as with more strategic gains as opposed to President Trump.

I think the question for President Trump is that how much he has to cut his losses.

And I think that's the question, the critical question that he had not been able to really accept.

You mentioned Iran's foreign ministry making sort of more positive statements about this memorandum, this text and saying, yes, the majority of it has been finalised.

But they did go on to say that the US has made excessive demands and has added some new requests.

Do you have any sense of what those new requests are?

You know, I think for our listeners, we need to caution our listeners because both sides are trying to really basically score political points, right?

I mean, both Iran and the United States would like to say they have won.

And I think that's what you're going to hear if and when the memorandum of understanding is signed.

But the reality is, I think the big point for Iran is

is to end the war, is a lasting end to the war, is to force the United States to unfreeze its frozen assets.

Iran has about $21 or $24 billion in frozen assets.

And also lift the sanctions and lift America's blockade of Iranian ports.

And also importantly is to end the war on all fronts,