Scott Lucas

Well, the assets are in the region, but they're kind of dispersed in a way.

First of all, for example, the 82nd Airborne, I don't want to minimize the fact they were deployed, but it's only one-third of the full strength.

And in terms of those amphibious ships, although they sort of arrived in the area, but then they've held back from moving closer to the Iranian territory.

And they certainly haven't gone into the Strait of Hormuz.

And most of the American power that you're seeing there, the naval power, is still several hundred kilometers away from Iran.

It's over closer to the Red Sea because that's, of course, where they fire the missiles from.

Well, I mean the Americans can lift the blockade, but we just discussed why that's not likely to happen.

No, I don't think there's a way around it at this point.

I think what the Iranians effectively done is they took a risk when they – they waited 72 hours.

Maybe we'll go.

Maybe we don't, and then they effectively stood up the Americans.

It's like we're not going to accept your date and show up in Pakistan even if Vice President J.D.

Vance was supposed to be there.

And they took the risk when they did that that on – when the ceasefire expired late Tuesday, Trump was immediately going to resume the airstrikes, but he didn't.

So from an Iranian perspective, it's like, well, we've done this.

The Americans aren't going to try to put this pressure on us if we stand up to them.

So I don't think they have incentive – I don't think they're cornered where they have to go back into the talks, and I think –

Until the Trump people give a potential hint of a compromise – and there is one there, David.

I mean there is one where the Americans told the Iranians, you suspend your nuclear program, your civilian nuclear program for 20 years.

The Iranians offered five in the first set of talks.