US intelligence believes Tehran gained leverage by proving it can block the Strait of Hormuz, as Trump defends a deal that leaves nuclear disputes for later and offers Iran early oil sanctions reliefynet|3 View gallery Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, US President Donald Trump (Photo: Hamed Jafarnejad/ISNA/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters, AP/Alex Brandon, Reuters/Stringer)CNN reported that U.S. intelligence agencies believe Iran showed it can effectively block the strait and could do so again, despite Trump’s claims that the U.S. destroyed Iran’s navy. The report said Iran does not need a large navy to threaten shipping, because it can use drones, missiles and small boats to lay mines.“We have now handed Iran de facto control over the strait – a weapon more powerful than any nuke,” one person familiar with the intelligence told CNN.The MoU does not resolve the dispute over Iran’s nuclear program, instead deferring the issue to 60 days of future negotiations. It does call for the reopening of the strait, apparently without an Iranian fee on ships during the negotiating period. Trump and his aides have said the move will lower oil and gasoline prices, though the strait had been open before the war.Under the memorandum, the United States is expected to lift its blockade of Iranian ports once the document is formally signed Friday in Switzerland. Iranian officials, however, have said the blockade has already effectively been lifted and that several Iranian tankers crossed the blockade line in the past day.The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday that Washington also agreed to grant Iran an immediate waiver from sanctions on its oil and fuel sales before nuclear talks begin.People familiar with the matter told the Journal that the sanctions waiver would take effect immediately after the initial memorandum is signed. The relief would also cover banking, transportation and security services connected to Iranian oil sales.3 View gallery The oil tanker Richmond Voyager, which Iran allegedly opened fire on according to the United States, in an incident in the Persian GulfA senior U.S. official told the Journal that Iran would receive immediate economic relief from oil sales, but that making the relief permanent would depend on Iran’s compliance with U.S. demands regarding Hormuz and its nuclear program.The official said Iran would not yet gain access to tens of billions of dollars in frozen assets abroad, which Tehran has demanded during recent negotiations.The full final text of the memorandum has not been released, and it remains unclear whether Iran will receive frozen funds during the 60-day nuclear negotiation period, which could be extended if no agreement is reached.A U.S. official later confirmed parts of the Journal report to Reuters, saying Iran would be allowed to sell oil only if it complies with all provisions of the memorandum, including not disrupting shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.United Against Nuclear Iran, a U.S.-based advocacy group, said an Iranian supertanker carrying crude oil sailed Tuesday from the port of Chabahar in southern Iran and crossed the U.S. blockade line out of the Gulf of Oman. The group said the vessel did so with its transponder on, marking the first such known crossing by an Iranian tanker since the U.S. blockade began in April.Comments