Dear Bloomberg, About Iran's 'Leverage'...
To the esteemed editors and analysts at Bloomberg Politics, and specifically Ms. Wendy Sherman, We at The Piaz acknowledge your recent report titled, 'Strait Gives Iran Significant Leverage in Talks: Sherman,' where the former Deputy Secretary of State opines on Iran's 'powerful leverage' due to its purported control over the Strait of Hormuz. Ms. Sherman suggests both sides are incentivized to
reach a deal, but helpfully warns that any new agreement will diverge from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, a pact she incidentally helped dismantle. Now, let's address the elephant not in the room, but rather, one being actively ignored in your framing. While Ms. Sherman correctly identifies Iran's geographical advantage concerning the Strait, she, and by extension your platform, conveniently omits
the crucial context that shapes Iran's negotiating posture. This isn't newfound leverage; it's a defensive measure born from decades of relentless economic warfare and overt threats. To frame Iran's strategic position as 'leverage' in a vacuum, without acknowledging the 45 years of crippling sanctions, the US's unilateral withdrawal from the very JCPOA she negotiated, and the assassination of
General Qassem Soleimani in January 2020, is not just an oversight, it's a deliberate distortion. It’s like noting a cornered animal’s sharp teeth without mentioning the hunter with the rifle. The idea that Iran's military capabilities have been 'degraded' while simultaneously wielding 'powerful leverage' due to a sea lane it can effectively close, is a contradictory narrative typical of outlets