ABBY PHILLIP: All of this occurred as a second spherical of peace talks with Iran was anticipated to get underway with Vice President JD Vance set to journey to Pakistan. But we’re studying that as Air Force One idled on the tarmac forward of Vance’s scheduled departure, Iran primarily ghosted the United States, telling — his officers informed NCS that the White House had despatched an preliminary record of broad deal factors that it wished Iran to comply with earlier than negotiations, however they by no means obtained a response. And that then raised questions on whether or not a lot of something could possibly be achieved in individual.
The massive query now could be, the place does this battle go from right here, and what comes subsequent for the all-important Strait of Hormuz?
And this new reporting from NCS, Geraldo, that Iran mainly didn’t reply them in any respect, and the reason could possibly be that they’re fractured, as President Trump mentioned. But the actual fact that the specter of a resumption of hostilities wasn’t sufficient for them to scurry one thing collectively, what does that let you know about how a lot leverage the United States has by persevering with to make use of power as a menace right here?
GERALDO RIVERA: Well, that’s an awesome query. I believe they known as his bluff. I believe that the Iranians found out that the entire TACO factor, the entire Trump all the time chickens out. You know, they estimated that his bluster, at first it shocked them and frightened them, after which the extra they, I suppose, turned conversant in his M.O., the extra they noticed that he was all discuss.
And that I believe the opposite massive level is Trump wildly underestimated the Iranians’ capability to endure. I actually suppose that he thought that by bombing and inflicting widespread devastation and all the remainder of it, that he may leverage them right into a negotiation. Instead, he watched them martyr themselves and strengthen their hand.
Yes, I don’t know what’s happening behind closed doorways in Iran, by any means, however I think that Trump in all probability does, and the Israelis in all probability do, they usually’ve come to the conclusion, and that’s why they pulled off yesterday, come to the conclusion that it was disastrous to proceed.