Despite Trump's eulogies, the reports of the Iran deal's death are greatly exaggerated
The U.S. president is talking about 'old' and 'new' sanctions, but Tehran has decades of experience under such regimes and now the blockaded Strait of Hormuz, leaving the memorandum of understanding a source for diplomacy
President Donald Trump finds himself in a challenging position as the US-Israel war against Iran marks its six-month anniversary. The conflict, which the Republican leader once assured would be a "little excursion," has dragged on longer than expected. Trump claims to have already devastated Iran's leadership, military, and economy through airstrikes and economic sanctions.
However, his administration is now focusing on increasing economic pressure on Iran, rather than further military action, as the US munitions stockpiles dwindle. Trump insists that Iran's leadership is in "deep trouble" and lacks the capacity to continue the conflict. The president has stated that he is "not in a hurry" to bring Iran back to the negotiating table and is not interested in meeting with Iranian officials.
The war has cost the US over $37.5 billion, and Trump acknowledges that it has negatively impacted his popularity ahead of the November elections. As the conflict continues, Iran has used its own strikes in the Strait of Hormuz to apply pressure on the US and its allies. Despite the economic strain on Iran, the country has demonstrated resilience by selling discounted oil and maintaining secretive shipping and financial networks.
Analysts warn that Trump may be underestimating Iran's determination, as the regime has proven capable of adapting to international economic sanctions in the past.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
