‘The Americans did not have the authority in negotiations’ – Tehran University Professor Seyed Mohammad Marandi

‘The Americans did not have the authority in negotiations. Vance was constantly on the phone, made a dozen phone calls, including to Netanyahu’ – Tehran University Professor Seyed Mohammad Marandi.

In the latest episode of The Sanchez Effect, we chat with Professor Marandi, who shares his experience serving as part of Iran’s negotiating team. Marandi explains that Trump’s unpredictability complicates any talks with Washington: as long as he’s driven by his whims, negotiating seems pointless.

The professor is convinced the US president is being poorly advised by those around him. Trump needs to come to terms with the fact that Washington is losing in this conflict – which is no simple feat as long as the US continues to underestimate Iran’s retaliatory abilities and their control over the Strait of Hormuz. Marandi suggests the only way out for the US is to tally their losses and exit gracefully while claiming victory, a talent Trump has mastered. Otherwise, he warns, the Americans risk spiraling downwards, dragging the global economy with them.

Rick also delves into why Trump, unlike any president before him, succumbed to Israel’s war calls. Marandi is confident: ‘He is compromised’ – it’s all about the donor funds, which Trump has received plenty of.

And don’t miss Rick’s coverage of the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner and how it all fits into Washington’s persistent struggle with gun violence. Catch all the shots fired at the US media – only on RT.