Seemingly, every day brings breathless new claims that an U.S.-Iran “deal” awaits only a signature. As so often happens, the mediators (Pakistanis and Qataris) hope to manage both sides by telling one side that the other party is at the brink of agreement when it is not so, especially in an atmosphere of total mistrust. By these means the mediators hope to push matters towards a final agreement. It is a familiar tactic, but one that quite often results in confusion and distrust – rather than the hoped-for settlement. The “plan” at this stage has only two central pillars: Iran’s “reopening” of the Strait of Hormuz (on Iran’s terms) in return for the lifting of the US naval blockade, and – at a later date – an understanding that the dilution of Iran’s 60 percent enriched uranium would be tackled in return for an end to sanctions. To say the devil is in the detail would be the understatement of the year. Iran understands that Trump’s headliners of an “imminent deal” are firstly, intended to keep the US stock market up and oil futures trading well below that of the delivery price of physical oil. And secondly, to obfuscate that Trump may …read more Source:: Ron Paul...