Currently, the outside world has a clearer view of Iran's demands, which helps explain why Trump remains so pessimistic. Some of Iran's core requirements are extremely difficult for the United States to accept at best, and entirely non-negotiable at worst. According to Iranian state media, Iran is demanding war reparations from the U.S., the right to control the Strait of Hormuz—two demands that the U.S. will never accept—and also the lifting of sanctions. Implicitly, Iran seeks not just to end the war as a victor, but as a decisive winner. In contrast, the U.S. insists that Iran agree to new, significant constraints on its nuclear program. Yet Iran’s leadership believes it has held the upper hand in the conflict and shows no sign of accepting Washington’s conditions. On Monday, Trump maintained his hardline stance, stating “they will cave,” and mentioned he is considering reviving "Project Freedom"—a U.S. Navy operation to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz—though he noted this would be only “part of the overall strategy.” He also said he is contemplating pushing for Venezuela to become the 51st state of the United States.
In sum, although a ceasefire remains in place for now, the prospect of reopening the Strait of Hormuz under Trump remains unclear, let alone achieving broader goals such as weakening Iran’s nuclear program or provoking regime change in Tehran. Will he escalate military actions further, make concessions to Iran, or maintain the status quo—allowing oil prices to keep rising and global economic turmoil to intensify? For now, Trump continues to engage in war brinkmanship. The Pentagon announced that a U.S. ballistic missile submarine has arrived at Gibraltar over the weekend. Such deployments are rarely disclosed publicly, and this move “appears to send a strategic signal to Iran.”
According to an announcement posted on the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s website, the U.S. has imposed a new round of sanctions on Iran aimed at increasing economic pressure. The sanctions target three individuals and nine companies, some of which are located in Hong Kong.
Belgian Defense Minister Thierry Francken stated that the UK and France are developing a joint plan to clear mines from the Strait of Hormuz and ensure freedom of navigation. He emphasized that the strait must be reopened to restore gas and oil exports. European nations possess the technical capability to remove sea mines and can deploy these capabilities in the Strait of Hormuz. He also stressed that European countries have a responsibility to support Gulf states currently facing serious Iranian aggression. Furthermore, he underscored the importance of maintaining NATO unity and continuing dialogue.
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Original source: toutiao.com/article/1864956565323787/
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