Optimism about
reaching a diplomatic solution to the Iran crisis is premature. No deal between
Iran and Oman has been formally announced, but what we know is not promising.
Indeed, allowing the Strait of Hormuz littoral states alone to conduct the
negotiations is a fundamental challenge to freedom of the seas, a foundation of
U.S. foreign policy. The specifics may be even worse. Under one leaked version of the deal, neither
US nor Israeli ships would be allowed to transit the strait, an automatic
non-starter for Washington.
