LOS ANGELES (OC).–U.S. and world financial market vacillate as President Donald Trump decides what to do in Iran, threatening to destroy Iran’s civilization if it doesn’t end the blockade on the Strait of Hormuz. No world leader other than Trump is willing to go out on a limb to stop the radical mullah regime from holding the rest of the world hostage. Trump asked the EU and Asia to intervene to stop Iran;s piracy, something no different than Somali pirates or Houthis in the the Bab al-Mandeb Strait in the Horn of Africa. Closing global shipping routes had caused oil prices to double in the last five weeks, now seeing oil at $115 a barrel. If oil doesn’t come down soon it could create more inflation, pushing the U.S. economy into recession or, worse yet, persistent stagflation. Whatever the economic consequences, Trump can’t back down now but hopes that Iran opens up the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump asked world leaders, especially the EU, to take a more active role in opening up the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping, knowing they receive some 20% of their oil and natural gas from the Persian Gulf. No other country has wanted to join Trump’s war with Iran, instead talking about diplomacy that hasn’t worked with the mullah regime. Diplomats in Pakistan are busy trying to fashion a two-week delay for negotiations during which Iran agrees to open up the Strait of Hormuz. If the mullah regime relents, it will be a major victory for Trump, despite all the flack he gets with Democrats and the fake news. Democrats are only concerned about politics heading in to the 2026 Midterm elections. Trump has the responsibility as commander-in-chief to advance U.S. foreign policy and defend national security. Iran has threatened U.S. national security.
Islamabad has led peace efforts to try to broker a ceasefire in the Iran War, asking Trump to delay his promised bombing campaign of Iran’s energy infrastructure in exchange for opening up the Strait of Hormuz. If Iran agrees, it would show that Trump’s has mastered global diplomacy, know when to use the U.S. military to achieve political objectives. Trump has asked Tehran to accept his 15-point peace plan that included suspending all nuclear activities plus opening up the Strait of Hormuz. So far, Iran has refused to negotiate with Trump but may work with Islamabad to achieve his political goals. Trump wants Iran to give up control of the Strait of Hormuz since it’s an international waterway assuring safe passage for commercial shipping carring some 20% of the world’s oil and natural gas. Iran could very well agree to Islamabad’s attempt to settle the conflict.
Based on a request from Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Trump could delay the U.S. military operation for two weeks, proving that Iran makes good on its obligation to open up the Strait of Hormuz. If Iran doesn’t agree to open up the Strait, Trump would have no choice but to start his bombing campaign, targeting Iran’s energy infrastructure and bridges. Criticized by Democrats and the fake news, Trump acted in defense of U.S. national security. He saw Iran as an existential threat to Israel and U.S. interests in the Mideast. If the five-week war has taught anything, Iran has attacked Arab Gulf States with impunity, justifying their aggression because of harboring U.S. troops on their territory. So, when it comes to Iran, the Arab Gulf States want Trump to go ahead to decimate Iran’s energy infrastructure and bridges, hoping to drive the mullah regime out of Tehran.
Vice President J.D. Vance, visiting Budapest to campaign for Hungarian Presidnet Viktor Orban, said he was confident that Iran would agree to open up the Strait of Hormuz by tonight’s 8 PM deadline. Iran previously rejected Trump’s 15-point peace proposal, demanding that Washington pay Tehran war reparations and accept sovereignty over the Strait of Hormz. Since that’s not possible, Vance hoped that rational voices in Tehran would prevail. “We’re going to strike some military targets on Kharg Island, and I believe we have done so,” Vance said, responding to the fake news calling Trump’s targeting of energy infrastructure war crimes. Democrats and the fake news don’t call Iran’s nuclear program, potentially building an A-bomb a war crime. Trump has been forced to go it alone with U.S. allies refusing to join the effort to oust Iran from the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump will most likely defer any further bombing of Iran’s energy infrastructure if he can get Iran to open up the Strait of Hormuz. It’s a clear terrorist act to keep commercial shipping from moving through an international waterway. Iran doesn’t own the Persian Gulf or Strait of Hormuz but acts today like they can hold the rest of the world hostage, driving oil prices through the roof. Trump is the only world leader willing to stand up to Iran’s terrorism, watching the U.N. and European Union talk about diplomacy with a terrorist state. When it comes to Iran’s nuclear program, only Trump commits himself to ending the mullah government’s feverish pursuit of a nuclear weapon. Regime change would be the best option for all in the Middle East, especially Israel and the Arab Gulf States. Five weeks of war proved that Iran is a terrorist state, not governed by international law.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
