Trump on the truce

The US President’s attempt to pass off the ceasefire deal as concern for the world is too much

Even as the USA released the official text of the memorandum of understanding with the USA to end their conflict, resume nuclear negotiations and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, President Donald Trump said that the ceasefire had been agreed because it spared the world an economic crisis. He also tried to come over the high hand with Iran, threatening to resume the US attack if it did not comply with the terms of the agreement. There are a number of issues the statements raise, and seem to show that Mr Trump was trying to cover his colossal embarrassment at having had to opt for the truce, and to attempt essentially for everything to go back to the way it was before the war. The only change that would occur is that Iran would be returned its confiscated assets, about $31 billion.

The first issue is whether there would have been any danger of a crisis if Mr Trump had not attacked Iran in tandem with Israel. It is now generally accepted that Iran blocked the Strait of Hormuz, but it should not be forgotten that shipping stopped when insurance preiums skyrocketed, and then insurers were not to be found, because the Strait was a war zone, what with Iran attacking US bases in Gulf countries. It might be remembered that the world, before February 28, was not heading to an economic crisis. That Mr Trump subjected the world to a needless trauma is shown by the fact that the reason given out for the war, the Iranian nuclear programme, has been kicked down the road.

The threat of more bombing seems the flailing of a bully who has failed to achieve his purpose with his initial display of force. The threat was probably aimed at the other world leaders at the G8 summit he was attending, as was his astound declaration before one plenary that “I’m the boss.” It was almost as if he wanted to signal that he was not to be disrespected just because a Third World country under sanctions had just showed him up. However, the fact that he is doubling down instead of showing repentance or regret, is typical, but whether harmful to him or not, it disgraces his country even further, and demeans his office.