BRIC Team reports: It rejects the dismantling of its nuclear programme, and wants sanctions to be lifted and the recognition of its influence over the key waterway. Trump has called its latest proposal — with these demands — “garbage”. Advertisement So what options does he have?On Sunday, the US president hinted that more military moves may be needed, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggested the war was not over.
Iran’s enriched uranium remains in the country — even though it is likely buried under rubble from US and Israeli bombings last June. Iran’s enrichment sites have not been dismantled. And Tehran still retains its proxy networks and ballistic missile arsenal, Netanyahu said in a CBS interview.
Background
A report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies warned that the conflict had already reduced Washington’s readiness for other potential confrontations, particularly with China.Iran has already shown what would happen should the US and Israel resume bombing it, with Gulf allies bearing the brunt of it. After Trump announced “Project Freedom” – an initiative to force the opening of the narrow waterway to allow stranded vessels to transit – Iran responded with a barrage of missiles and drones targeting the United Arab Emirates. US officials argued that the attacks were not enough to be considered a breach of the fragile ceasefire agreed upon in early April – a signal of the Trump administration’s lack of appetite to pick up fighting again, observers said.
Key facts
- It rejects the dismantling of its nuclear programme, and wants sanctions to be lifted and the recognition of its influence over the key waterway.
- Trump has called its latest proposal — with these demands — “garbage”.
- Iran’s enriched uranium remains in the country — even though it is likely buried under rubble from US and Israeli bombings last June.
What this means
Instead, the US president suspended the Hormuz initiative within 24 hours, even though a naval blockade of vessels linked to Iran seeking passage through the strait remains in place.Pressure is mounting at home, too. The latest Reuters/Ipsos survey published on Tuesday suggests two-thirds of Americans polled do not think that Trump has given a clear rationale for why the US waged this war. And the same percentage is feeling the financial strain from the war as gas, oil and fertiliser prices are rising.
Trump’s approval rating of 36 percent remains far lower than what it was — 47 percent — last year, ahead of mid-term elections in November that could determine whether the Republican Party retains control of Congress. Advertisement While the US president has often appeared relatively insensitive to popular opinion in Washington, he cares about market fluctuations, energy prices and inflation and “understands that the status quo can’t be protected indefinitely,” said Minor of the Atlantic Council. “He will find creative framing to present some agreement as a victory even if he will have to concede something” to Iran, she added.Trump, she said, is unlikely to be able to convince Iran to both strike a deal that limits its nuclear programme and give up control over the Strait of Hormuz.
