RLOS ANGELES (oc).–eturning from China, President Donald Trump faces an angry liberal press, slamming his trip to China as a publicity stunt. Far from a PR stunt, Trump managed to restore U.S.-Chinese relations, something former President Joe Bide almost destroyed saying in 2022 that he would commit U.S. soldiers to battle China over Taiwan. No one really knows Biden’s mental state at the time of his public remarks, violating the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act singed into law by President Jimmy Carter to recognize only one China, the one in Beijing. Biden infuriated Chinese President Xi Jinping that wants the U.S. to take a neutral role in the dispute with the Taiwan-based Republic of China [ROC], a name now prohibited under the Taiwan Relations Act. Trump walked a tightrope saying little about what the U.S. would do about supply more advanced arms to Taiwan.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi said Iran wants to continue peace talks, announcing plans to let certain commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz for a fee. That’s exactly why Trump said Iran’s response to his peace plan was “unacceptable.” Iran has the misguided belief that the Strait of Hormuz, an international waterway, is Iran’s sovereign property when, in fact, it’s access is guaranteed by international law. Returning from China, Trump has some big decisions to make about either resuming the war or confining the U.S. navy mission to neutralizing the Iranian Republican Guard Corps [IRG] swift boat fleet currently attacking commercial ships transiting the Strait. Saudi Arabia and Kuwait are already retaliating against Iranian attacks. Trump must decide how the war will proceed, something not yet decided by Pentagon planners.
Iran thinks attacking Arab Gulf State will pressure Trump into ending the war on Iran’s terms, something that won’t happen. Trump isn’t considering Iran’s terms for ending the war, he’s considering resuming the bombing campaign on Iran’s oil and gas infrastructure. Aragchi only parrots back what his IRGC minder tell him to say. Iran said the war would not end unless Israel stopped its war in Lebannon, not something Israel agreed to do. Israel agreed to a 45-day ceasefire in Lebanon but continues to bomb Hezbollah targets in the south. Lebanon finds itself taken over by Iran’s Hezbollah militia, continuing to spar with Israel at the expense of the Beirut government. Lebanon, already stricken by years of war and poverty, has no military reserved to defend itself against Hezbollah or any other group. Iraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is ready to resume the Iran War.
Continuing the blockade on Iranian commercial ships, Trump continues to turn the screws on the mullah regime, crippling its already battered economy. Iran has no way to generate oil sales to countries like China and India, the two most populous nations on earth with voracious appetites for fossil fuels. Trump discussed with Chinese President Xi Jinping whether he could lean on Tehran to open up the Strait of Hormuz. Xi knows the effect of losing Iranian oil from reaching China. Trump said today he didn’t need China to open up the Hormuz Strait, despite the fact that, at least for now, the IRGC still has the upperhand. It woul tlake a concerted multinational effort to stop Iran’s stranglehold on the Hormuz Strait, something that must be done to end skyrocketing oil prices and shortage in Europe. Iran still thinks it has the upper hand in the Straite of Hormuz.
Iran’s mullah regime is in survival mode, relying on terrorist tactics to blockade commercial shipping in the Persian Gulf. Trump agreed to a temporary ceasefire to let Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif continue to negotiate an end to the war. So Far, Iran has shown no willingness to let go of its outrageous demand of sovereignty over the Hormuz Strait, insisting the U.S. pay Iran war reparations. Sharif knows, as Trump said, the ceasefire is on life support, but the war could morph into a a different direction. Trump must decide whether to continue escorting ships through the Hormuz Strait, goving after the IRGC swift boat fleet continuing to attack commercial ships. No country finds it acceptable that Iran can set up a turnpike in the Strait to charge illegal fees to commercials ships transiting the Strait. Trump has some big decisions to make no likely to please Wall Street.
Anyway Trump turns, Wall Street will likely sell off, not knowing what happens to the price of oil and gold. Gold has sold off over 20% since the Feb. 28 start of the Iran War. Israel still thinks there’s more work to do over Iran’s nuclear enrichment program. Aragchi said there can be no discussions on the nuke issue until after the war end. Iran insists its nuke program is for peaceful, commercial purposes desite the skeptics that see Iran’s 1,000 pound stockpile of 60% enriched uranium as a prelude to an A-bomb. Trump sinking approval ratings have everything to do with skyrocketing oil prices, causing hardship to American consumers. Most consumers don’t understand that oil prices are set by international markets, despite the U.S. getting not oil from the Persian Gulf. Trump can’t allow the current fossil fuel prices to continue much longer.
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.
