Scott Lucas

Can he be avoided by further complications over immigration?

In other words, can he saddle J.D.

Vance with all the dirty work in the Trump administration and try to keep his hands clean?

Thank you.

Yeah, I think we're in sort of a limbo because we get developments that you've referred to.

So earlier this week, the Americans tried to show their muscle by seizing an Iranian ship and its crew.

They, of course, are trying to blockade all traffic to and from Iranian ports, although that's only partially successful.

But then you get Iran really showing its control of the Strait of Hormuz despite that American blockade with, as you mentioned, those attacks on three ships, and then I think significantly seizing two of them.

One of them had a Panama flag.

One of them a Liberian flag.

But to show you the extent of Iran's continuing to control the Strait despite all this U.S.

military buildup,

When the White House was asked about this last night, whether Iran had broken the ceasefire that was unilaterally extended by Donald Trump only hours earlier, the White House said Donald Trump is not taking any action because these are not US or Israeli vessels.

Well, of course, the vast majority of vessels that have been stuck in the Strait of Hormuz now for eight weeks are not US or Israeli.

They are under the flags of many different countries.

So in effect, whether or not the White House meant this

They effectively said, look, if Iran continues to seize ships, well, that's going to be what happens as long as they don't have a U.S.

or Israeli flag above them.

Because the Americans are stuck here.

What the Trump folks have wanted for eight weeks has been regime surrender to give in to their demands on the nuclear program, the missile program, Iran's relations in the Middle East, as well as control of the Strait of Hormuz.