Dr. Omar Al-Bustanji, Director of the Economic and Political Research Center in Amman, stated that the trajectory of negotiations between the United States and Iran remains characterized by considerable ambiguity and divergence, noting that while the U.S. negotiating team occasionally conveys positive signals suggesting that a final agreement may be within reach and awaiting only political endorsement, statements from senior officials within the U.S. administration often reintroduce doubts regarding both the prospects and timing of such an agreement. According to Al-Bustanji, this reflects a degree of inconsistency and uncertainty in the American approach toward the negotiation process.
Speaking during a television interview on Cairo News Channel, Al-Bustanji argued that Washington is currently pursuing a strategy commonly described as “strategic patience,” whereby it prolongs the state of anticipation and avoids decisive commitments. He suggested that this approach enables the United States to capitalize on the economic and commercial consequences of ongoing geopolitical tensions, particularly their impact on global markets and the opportunities they create for American corporations.
Al-Bustanji further noted that throughout successive rounds of negotiations, the United States has frequently raised the threshold of its demands whenever the two sides appeared close to reaching mutual understandings. He explained that such a pattern reflects Washington’s desire to secure additional concessions from Tehran, while simultaneously reopening issues that had previously been considered settled. This dynamic, he argued, complicates efforts to achieve a comprehensive and durable agreement and contributes to the persistence of diplomatic deadlock.
Addressing the issue of the Strait of Hormuz, Al-Bustanji indicated that the waterway has been among the subjects discussed during previous negotiations and was linked to broader understandings concerning maritime security and freedom of navigation. He emphasized the important mediating role played by Oman in facilitating dialogue between the two parties and narrowing areas of disagreement. However, he noted that the recent U.S. position rejecting any Iranian role or influence in the management of maritime traffic through the Strait is viewed in Tehran as an infringement upon its sovereign rights. Consequently, the acceptance of such conditions is likely to be highly challenging for the Iranian leadership, which perceives them as an attempt to impose a political framework that undermines Iran’s regional standing and strategic influence.
