By Gloria Ogbonna
During Wednesday’s broadcast of The Ingraham Angle on the Fox News Channel, Ambassador Nathan Sales, who served as the U.S. Coordinator for Counterterrorism during the first Trump administration, sharply criticized Iran’s actions following a recently negotiated ceasefire agreement.
Speaking with host Laura Ingraham, Sales claimed that Iran began violating the terms of the ceasefire almost immediately after it was finalized. According to him, the agreement was intended to create a clear exchange: the United States would halt its intense and sustained military operations against the Iranian regime, and in return, Iran would reopen the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz to international maritime traffic without restrictions.
However, Sales argued that Iran failed to uphold its end of the deal from the outset. He alleged that although Iranian officials publicly indicated a willingness to reopen the waterway, they attached conditions that were not part of the original understanding. These included demands that certain vessels pay tolls, limit their passage to waters closer to Iranian-controlled territory, or coordinate directly with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
“The trade was straightforward,” Sales explained during the interview. “The United States would suspend its punishing and crippling military offensive, and in exchange, the regime would open up the Strait. But that never truly happened. Instead, they added conditions that effectively undermined the agreement.”
Sales emphasized that these additional requirements, in his view, amounted to a clear breach of the ceasefire terms. He asserted that by introducing new restrictions and conditions, Iran had been violating the agreement “since day one.”
Beyond the alleged ceasefire violations, Sales also raised broader concerns about leadership and decision-making within Iran. He questioned who is currently directing the country’s military and diplomatic strategies, noting that Iran’s supreme leader has not publicly addressed the situation since the early stages of the conflict.
“This raises a fundamental question,” Sales said. “Who is actually in charge? Who is speaking for the regime and making these critical decisions about war and peace?”
He pointed out that the supreme leader is traditionally regarded as the ultimate authority in Iran’s political and military hierarchy. Yet, according to Sales, there has been no direct communication from him since the conflict began. He also referenced circulating rumors suggesting that the supreme leader may have been severely wounded during the war, though no official confirmation has been provided.
Sales’ remarks add to growing scrutiny over the durability of the ceasefire and the broader stability of the region. The status of the Strait of Hormuz remains a focal point of international concern, given its importance as one of the world’s most critical oil transit chokepoints.
Source Breitbrat
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