​From bad to worse: On Donald Trump and the war on Iran

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When Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu launched the warfare connected Iran connected February 28, their objectives were sweeping: authorities alteration successful Tehran, the dismantling of Iran’s rocket and atomic programmes, and the curbing of its enactment for determination non-state allies. In the aboriginal days of the conflict, Mr. Trump ruled retired immoderate statement with Iran and demanded its “unconditional surrender”. The warfare went truthful severely for Washington that, 3 months later, Mr. Trump is negotiating a impermanent ceasefire hold and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz successful speech for economical concessions to Tehran. According to a draught MoU reported by U.S. media, Iran would reconstruct maritime postulation done the Strait of Hormuz to pre-war levels, portion the U.S. would gradually assistance its blockade of Iranian ports. Tehran would besides get entree to its frozen funds, portion the ceasefire would beryllium extended connected each fronts, including Lebanon. Yet, adjacent if approved by some sides, the statement is lone a preliminary one. Mr. Trump nary longer speaks of Iran’s rocket programme oregon its enactment for its determination allies. His absorption has narrowed to the atomic issue, fundamentally the enactment Barack Obama adopted successful 2013, culminating successful the 2015 atomic statement with Iran, which Mr. Trump sabotaged successful 2018. Once the MoU is reached, Iran and the U.S. would commencement superior nonstop negotiations connected the atomic issue.

Mr. Trump’s subject run has failed to execute immoderate of its declared objectives. By striking U.S. bases crossed the Persian Gulf and taking power of the Strait of Hormuz, Iran widened the struggle regionally and economically. Mr. Trump announced the ceasefire connected April 8, apt realising that aerial strikes would execute little, and has tried to extract concessions from Iran done economical and subject pressure. But Iran responded successful kind. After Mr. Trump announced a blockade connected Iranian ports, Tehran cancelled negotiations and pushed the atomic record down its database of priorities. That Washington is present negotiating, done Pakistan, an MoU to widen the ceasefire and past instrumentality up the atomic record suggests that Tehran’s hardline tactics are yielding results. Tehran had antecedently engaged constructively with the U.S. When Mr. Trump unilaterally withdrew the U.S. from the 2015 atomic deal, Iran was compliant with its obligations, and successful aboriginal 2025 and February 2026, it was engaged successful talks. So, if the U.S. seeks a deal, it indispensable code the spot shortage and proceed connected the ground of communal concessions. If Mr. Trump is superior astir a negotiated settlement, a woody is wrong reach. But if helium seeks to execute done diplomacy what helium failed to unafraid done war, helium risks entangling the U.S. successful yet different everlastingly war.

Published - June 01, 2026 12:10 americium IST

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