Fox News reports that the reason Trump can’t make a deal is that there is really no one with genuine authority to make a deal with.
Iran’s rival political factions are increasingly invoking the authority of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei to attack their opponents and protect their own positions, even as questions persist over whether he is actively governing the country, according to an Iran expert.
The internal struggle surfaced in two reports published by Iran International concerning Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s relationship with the new supreme leader.
Kasra Aarabi, director of IRGC research at United Against Nuclear Iran, said the competing claims surrounding Pezeshkian and Mojtaba Khamenei reflected a deeper struggle inside what he described as an “Islamist oligarchic mafia system.”
Under Ali Khamenei, Aarabi said, the supreme leader functioned as the system’s “godfather,” arbitrating among rival Islamist factions and guaranteeing their access to power and money.
That wouldn’t be a surprise, and I’m not looking to see the US bomb the Hell out of the country. Like Trump, I don’t want people to die, but no one thinks negotiations are possible.
.@NEWSMAX: “Secretary Rubio has consistently made clear, and President Trump made clear as recently as yesterday, that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.” pic.twitter.com/RQymskcoTI
— Department of State (@StateDept) August 5, 2026
🚨 JUST IN OVERNIGHT: President Trump just threatened MAJOR strikes on Iran if they do not take this last chance to make a deal
“If they back out again, they’re going to get hit really hard.”
“You know, they know that, they understand that.”
“The strait’s going to be open very… pic.twitter.com/sxouL2diUl
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) August 5, 2026
Meanwhile…
Meanwhile, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi says, The United States sent a message requesting negotiations and a resolution of issues approximately 4 or 5 days after the start of the new round of conflict. Any agreement regarding the Strait of Hormuz should only be between Iran and Oman.
We will not accept any foreign interference in the Strait of Hormuz. With the implementation of the new agreement, existing temporary routes in the Strait of Hormuz will be closed. A significant portion of the routes for ships entering and exiting Iranian territorial waters will pass through.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi:
The United States sent a message requesting negotiations and a resolution of issues approximately 4 or 5 days after the start of the new round of conflict.
Any agreement regarding the Strait of Hormuz should only be between…
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) August 5, 2026
Trump wants a deal today, and Houthis won’t let Saudi ships pass.
The U.S. wants to announce a Hormuz deal today. Iran says reopening remains conditional.
A Hormuz deal could ease tensions for 60 days. It won’t end the shipping war. Here’s what the deal says, where Washington and Tehran disagree, and what comes next.https://t.co/liNpYk8ESq
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) August 5, 2026
