N. Prabhakaran Dubai: Despite repeatedly threatening to "obliterate" Iran, reports indicate that US President Donald Trump was mak...
N. Prabhakaran
Dubai: Despite repeatedly threatening to "obliterate" Iran, reports indicate that US President Donald Trump was making frantic efforts through Pakistan to secure a ceasefire deal. According to a Financial Times report, it was the White House that urged Islamabad to mediate temporary ceasefire talks with Iran.
The US calculated that Tehran would be more likely to accept a US-backed proposal if it were delivered by a Muslim-majority neighboring state that had maintained neutrality throughout the conflict. This was the primary reason for relying on Pakistan.
While Pakistan attempted to project itself as a peacemaker, this report calls into question Islamabad’s independent diplomatic stance. Even as President Trump issued threats and claimed Tehran was "begging" for peace, intense efforts for a ceasefire were happening behind the scenes.
For weeks, the Trump administration leaned on Islamabad to convince Iran to reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Following secret discussions led by Pakistan's Army Chief, Asim Munir, the US, Israel, and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire on Tuesday night.
Despite his outward threats to destroy Iran, Trump was concerned about surging oil prices and the resilience of the Iranian regime. Consequently, he was eager for a truce. The US believed that as a Muslim-majority nation, Pakistan possessed the necessary influence over Iran. Furthermore, the statement released by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had reportedly been pre-approved by the White House.
However, while Iran's political leadership favored the ceasefire, the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) opposed it. A drone attack on Saudi Arabia’s Jubail could have derailed the talks, but Pakistan worked hard to bring Iran back to the negotiating table. Following a conversation with Sharif on Wednesday afternoon, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian agreed to send representatives to Islamabad for talks.
Uncertain Outcomes and Israeli Discontent
The ultimate impact of this ceasefire remains to be seen. Israel is unhappy with the current arrangement; its goal is to crush Iran and bring about regime change, believing that as long as the current regime exists, it remains a threat.
Israel is particularly irked that the war is not ending with the total destruction of Iran's "whole civilization," as Trump had threatened. Instead, the two-week ceasefire provides the Islamic Republic an opportunity to survive and rebuild after 40 days of war. This dissatisfaction is likely why Israel intensified strikes in Lebanon, potentially undermining the peaceful atmosphere.
The Trump administration maintains that they have won. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described it as a "victory for the United States." However, Israel remains on high alert and wishes to continue fighting. "Israel still has more goals to complete," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated following the ceasefire announcement.
Trump’s team highlights two main points as evidence of victory:
They claim Iran will not be allowed to enrich uranium and that enriched uranium from destroyed sites will be moved out of the country.
They portray Iran’s agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz as a "surrender." However, since Iran closed the Strait again within hours, Trump has been forced back into a position of issuing threats.
Israel remains skeptical of these claims. There is no concrete evidence that Iran has agreed to concessions regarding its nuclear program. Instead, Iran is demanding the lifting of sanctions, which Israel fears will result in billions of dollars flowing back into Tehran. Additionally, Iran has stated it will charge fees for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, which could generate up to $80 billion annually for the Islamic Republic.
Netanyahu’s Political Challenge
With elections just months away, facing another war without a decisive result is a significant challenge for Netanyahu. It is uncertain how much voters will trust his promise to achieve goals "either through agreement or renewed fighting." He made similar promises regarding Gaza, yet Hamas maintains its influence there.
A joint US-Israel strike on Iran was something Netanyahu had dreamed of throughout his political career. Yet, even in this "dream scenario," he could not finish the job. Despite calling on the Iranian people to topple their government, no such revolution occurred.
In short, the Israeli administration is trying to convince its public that destroying the military capabilities of Iran and its proxies is a major victory. However, with Trump unlikely to seek another war before the next election, this ceasefire may pave the way for an Iranian resurgence. If the post-war situation does not change significantly, Netanyahu could face the loss of his own power. His next moves are being closely watched.
COMMENTS