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American Islamic Forum for Democracy President Zuhdi Jasser on international concerns over Iran conducting war games.
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But first more Sabre rattling coming out of Iran the rogue state launching six days of major military exercises in the straits.
Of Hormuz is this just more political posturing from Iranian regime.
Or are they preparing for something bigger joining me for more insight on all of this is -- just here -- The American Islamic forum for democracy and the author of the book a battle for the soul of -- also point out there.
That you served in the US navy for a it was roughly eleven years and I would imagine it did you ever -- That you were -- some point we ever in the Persian gulf area.
I was office Somalia with the US this El Paso but that's so just in the region.
Now with the US commission internationally this freedom and buff brains so yeah we have quite enabled presents for the fifth fleet in the area.
And we do and it's because roughly 40% of the world's oil will flow through the Strait of Hormuz how concerned should we be that Iran.
Is holding these military exercises they've done this before have -- not.
Well I think we should be concerned about the message.
They're sending -- really what it means what as far as militarily it's mostly defensive I think what it's showing they did this last year.
This stuff they call -- -- at 91 last December was -- -- ninety.
And what they're doing is trying to tell their citizens which are seeing 60% decrease in the value of the -- 50% increase in food prices.
Twenty to 30% decrease in oil production in Iran because they have no where to send it.
So what they're doing is telling their citizens.
We're in charge -- protect the ways.
And if you look at -- -- -- who recently on prestige being Iranian state TV said we are able demonstrating in this six days of war games that we can protect commercial tankers in the region that come through.
And to bring -- supplies so.
I think it's sending a message that for those countries like Turkey India China Russia that are helping them subvert the sanctions.
They're going to stand by them and protect them even though they're widely exposed so let's.
-- a little bit of mathematics here it's actually adding up what we've seen in the past few days just yesterday the Iranian regime has said that they were willing to lead in.
Nuclear inspectors if Israel.
And their threat to attack was defused and if western sanctions were to be eased.
What does that plus now these war exercise.
Exercises -- up to is the regime.
-- a -- on a precipice are they falling are they in turmoil and trouble.
Economically they certainly are there's a lot of rosling going on on the streets that that -- economy is done not stable they actually try to do their own stimulus package on month ago -- didn't really get much of -- response so.
The could be the rial itself is failing so what they're doing is trying to buy themselves political time.
While not giving away any posturing and letting their people know they are fully in control of their states of the region and they're not gonna be pushed around remember the other factor here is the Gulf Cooperation Council which recently has been you -- find their security of the Arab state gulf.
Countries and and the Iranians are trying to say you know we're not penny -- -- on by you guys either so our final word on all of this is it something that the US obviously we keep an eye on it but -- anyone take it as a serious threat.
I don't police -- -- these defensive postures and and the naval operations.
The nuclear threat -- serious and if there's anything we should take from this is we need to have a stronger response.
They're not gonna allow them to subvert sanctions ever gonna continue to push for to have transparency in what their nuclear program is.
And not allow them to keep us busy with other shenanigans and now grandiose operations.
The -- necessarily appreciate your being with us this evening from the American Islamic forum for democracy -- -- good evening -- Thank you to that the U.
