Donald Trump is again threatening Iran with new military attacks, while peace negotiations remain deadlocked.
The US president has again threatened Iran, saying the US may launch new attacks if Tehran continues to refuse significant compromises it is demanding before an agreement is reached to end the war in the Middle East.
"We will end the war very quickly," Donald Trump said at dawn, despite the fact that there were no immediate signs of any diplomatic or military developments in the US-Iran conflict.
Trump also reiterated that Iran "will not obtain a nuclear weapon," maintaining Washington's tough stance after months of military escalation between the two countries.
He added that he had called off a new wave of attacks that would have broken the ceasefire in place since early April. "I was an hour away from deciding to act today," he said on Tuesday (19/5).
The decision appears to have followed a new peace proposal submitted by Tehran through Pakistan, which is mediating the talks, and may have been influenced by the reluctance of allies, such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, to resume hostilities.
Trump said Iran's leaders were "begging" for a deal, but a new US attack would be a "big blow" in the coming days if it was not achieved.
"Well, I mean two or three days, maybe Friday, Saturday, Sunday, something like that, maybe early next week, for a limited period of time, because we can't let them get a new nuclear weapon," he added.
Deadlock in negotiations: Trump's threats are losing credibility
Despite Trump's repeated threats in recent weeks, the failure to take action has increased the feeling that the negotiations are at an impasse.
Analysts cited by the Guardian estimate that both sides want to avoid a new round of hostilities, but neither is willing to assume the political cost of the necessary concessions for a peace agreement.
“Trump’s threats have lost all credibility… The two sides are very far apart in terms of what they are willing to accept, but neither wants to go back to war. So they are just stuck… and neither really knows how to get out of it,” said Neil Quilliam of Chatham House in London.
The Strait of Hormuz is a "thorn" - Iran and the US are constantly changing the terms
Iran continues to block shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which carried about a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas supplies before the conflict, while the US has imposed its own naval blockade of Iranian ports.
Iranian officials remain unyielding in the face of new US threats, describing the demands as "excessive."
Since the ceasefire began on April 8, Tehran and Washington have held only one round of talks: an unsuccessful 21-hour session in Islamabad. Pakistani mediators have been trying to bridge the wide differences, passing successive proposals from one side to the other, but complain that both sides are “constantly shifting their reference points.”
According to the ISNA agency, Mohammad Akraminiya, a military spokesman, reiterated on Tuesday that Tehran would continue to manage the Strait, adding that the US must "respect the Iranian people and uphold the legitimate rights of the Islamic Republic."
Iranian Foreign Minister: We are ready to hit US aircraft in case of new conflict
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that the Iranian armed forces are capable of shooting down F-35 fighter jets and warned that a new military conflict would bring “more surprises.” Araghchi cited a report by the US Congressional Research Service that said that since the start of the joint US-Israeli military operation against Iran, about 42 aircraft, including drones, have been lost or damaged.
Iran is ready to open new fronts against the US
On Monday, Iran announced the creation of the “Persian Gulf Strait Authority” to manage navigation, while the Revolutionary Guards threatened to impose permits for internet fiber optics passing through the Strait.
Akraminiya said that in the event of new attacks, Iran would "open new fronts" against the US - which has amassed enormous military power in the region - and added that Tehran used the ceasefire "to strengthen its combat capabilities."
Experts estimate that Iran will likely intensify its efforts to strike Israel and neighboring Gulf countries, primarily targeting vulnerable oil and other civilian infrastructure.
The Iranian peace proposal that Trump called "garbage"
Iranian media reported that the latest peace proposal includes an end to hostilities on all fronts, including Lebanon, the withdrawal of US forces from areas near Iran, and compensation for damages from US-Israeli attacks.
Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran's deputy foreign minister, said Tehran also demands the lifting of sanctions, the release of frozen funds and an end to the US naval blockade, according to IRNA.
The terms, as described by Iranian agencies, appear not to have changed significantly from the previous proposal, which Trump rejected last week, calling it "garbage."
The consequences on the cost of living and markets
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the threat of new conflict have sent oil prices soaring, fueling global inflation and threatening a global recession. A new round of war could lead to further price rises and a stock market crash.
White House officials worry that the conflict, which has limited support among American voters, could undermine Republicans' chances of retaining control of Congress at a time when concerns about the cost of living are high.
Iran is facing a deepening economic crisis and potential damage to its oil infrastructure. Inflation is rising and some officials are sounding the alarm.
Source: iefimerida.gr
