Tensions are skyrocketing in the Middle East. The cross-fire between Iran and the United States continues: Donald Trump, in "revenge mode," is considering his next moves, while Tehran says it's ready to strike Tel Aviv and threatens to kill one American soldier for every Iranian citizen killed in US strikes .
Frustrated and impatient with an enemy that refuses to give up, the commander-in-chief is increasingly doubtful about the ability of negotiations to lead to a lasting peace and is convinced that the only language Iran understands is that of military force. This is especially true since, according to American intelligence sources cited by the New York Times, Mojtaba is more interested than his father, Ali Khamenei, in acquiring nuclear weapons . Trump, the Wall Street Journal reports, has expressed his frustration with Tehran to his advisors, while simultaneously defending China and Russia. Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin "assured me" that they would not supply weapons and "in my opinion they are not involved in the Iranian issue. If they were, the consequences would be serious, it would not be in their interest," he said, denying American intelligence reports that Moscow and Beijing are somehow helping Tehran.
To increase pressure and push Iran to seriously sit down at the negotiating table, Trump continues to raise the tone. "The damage caused to the vessels" by Iranian attacks "will be compensated with funds" from Tehran controlled by the United States, the president declared, convinced that crippling the Iranian economy is a key element in a conflict he hoped to end in a matter of weeks, but which has instead been raging for nearly five months. "The misappropriation of another nation's assets to meet future, unrelated claims sets an explosive precedent," was the harsh response from Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
Behind the scenes, negotiations continue, focusing on the Strait of Hormuz . An Omani delegation flew to Tehran to resume consultations on a mechanism to reopen the important crossroads. To secure it, the United States and the United Kingdom are discussing the possibility of holding a conference next week in London on a potential international coalition, with the participation of Western defense ministers. The United States would like its allies to send resources to the region, such as minesweepers, naval units, and drones. "The Americans are looking for a way out and want our help," a European source told Axios.
While the skies continue to exchange attacks, contacts between Washington and Tehran are continuing, although it's unclear at what level, in an attempt to break the impasse and relaunch negotiations that could avoid all-out war. According to the New York Times, Iran has rejected the latest American ceasefire proposal, angering Trump and unnerving Arab countries , increasingly in difficulty and targeted by Iranian retaliation. Their tense position is confirmed by Bahrain and Kuwait's covert attacks on Iran earlier this month, in what the Wall Street Journal reported was the first direct retaliation against Tehran. Among the targets were drone and missile depots, struck based on intelligence provided by the United Arab Emirates.
Israel is closely following developments. Benjamin Netanyahu will be in the United States next week for Republican Senator Lindsey Graham's funeral and will meet with Trump at the White House. The face-to-face meeting will allow the Israeli prime minister to mend fences with the president after recent disagreements and take stock of the escalation in Iran. The meeting suggests that Trump intends to take a few more days to evaluate his options, given that he could decide to launch what he called a "massive" attack alongside the ally with whom he launched Operation Epic Fury. However, in February, when the two allies launched the offensive, the United States and Israel had misled everyone by announcing high-level visits that never materialized.
(Unioneonline)