Source: Fortune
Summary
US President Donald Trump said he decided not to order new strikes on Iran after Gulf allies Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates urged him to hold off. Trump had planned a “biggest attack since World War II” but scrapped it to give diplomacy more time. He said a deal with Iran could include reopening the Strait of Hormuz and resolving US concerns about Iran’s nuclear program. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson said the Strait of Hormuz “will in no way return to the status it was before February 28th.” Trump expected negotiations to resume “tomorrow afternoon” but did not detail who would be involved. A regional official said the proposal calls for the US and Iran to return to negotiations and continue working out issues that have stymied prior progress.
Our Reading
The strategy enters a familiar phase.
Trump’s decision to hold off on strikes was influenced by Gulf allies, who warned of severe economic impact if Iran retaliated. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman conveyed concerns about escalation in a phone call with Trump. Trump suggested a deal with Iran could include reopening the Strait of Hormuz and resolving US concerns about Iran’s nuclear program. Iran’s leaders appear united in a war strategy, but a struggle for control seems to be brewing within the theocracy’s leadership. The proposal calls for the US and Iran to return to negotiations and continue working out issues that have stymied prior progress.
The numbers tell one story, but the real story is about who gets to write the next chapter.
Author: Evan Null
