- Ask any global citizen as to what the one genuine reason is for the US-Israeli alliance launching an attack on Iran. The answer would be a flummoxed look at the best of times and an exasperated expression following suit. Make no mistake, none of us would have wished for the ill-advised and ill-timed adventure undertaken by the Trump-led combination, leaving behind a trail of destruction not only in Iran and the entire West Asia/Middle East but also across the world. The whole universe is interconnected by the seas, where most trade occurs, keeping the country’s economy churning. However, a severe disruption in the energy supplies meant none of the economies were spared from the singeing from the debilitating move of the US/Israel.
PC: The Week
- The peace efforts undertaken by various stakeholders have created some buzz, leading to the expected reactions from the markets. Unfortunately, nothing concrete is visible on the horizon for the global community to breathe easily. As the popular saying goes in diplomatic parlance, the art of diplomacy is getting an opponent to agree to a deal because it is in their interest. Applying the same logic to the Iran war, both Washington and Tehran have ample reasons to bring the conflict to a negotiated end. Trump goes into the midterm polls later this year, and he certainly wouldn’t want a hangover of the war till then. Mind you, that would be akin to a political suicide. Iran, despite all its bravado, has been badly hit by this conflict, and economic strains are showing.
PC: Kurdistan24
- As reported, there’s a runway inflation, more than 54%, and growing shortages of essentials. And then, of course, there’s the global economic pain caused by the Iranian blockade of Hormuz, and the US counter-blockade of the Iranian ports. So, it’s welcome that Trump recently decided to hold off resuming attacks on Iran, after Tehran sent a revised proposal to end the war. But again, Iran is asking for the moon – reparations, ending hostilities on all fronts, exit of US forces from areas close to Iran, lifting of sanctions, release of frozen assets, and end to the US blockade. Plus, Iran wants de facto, if not de jure, sovereignty over Hormuz, potentially instituting a poll system.
PC: National Herald
- Viewed from any angle, that’s completely unacceptable and against maritime law. It also sets a dangerous precedent – if Iran is allowed to control a crucial international waterway, through which a fifth of global oil and natural gas flowed in peacetime, what stops others from following suit? China could similarly seize the South China Sea. Russia, the Arctic. Hence, the only reasonable deal for both sides would be the US lifting sanctions on Iran and unfreezing Iranian assets, even partially, in exchange for Tehran lifting its blockade on Hormuz, unconditionally. Both sides can then set a mutually agreeable timeframe to negotiate on the Iranian nuclear issue. Understandably, both Trump and Iran want to save face. Let them bite the bullet now.
