Rand Corporation: Trump Has Lost Control of the War — He Is Completely Panicked!
Yesterday, America’s premier think tank, the Rand Corporation, published an article stating: "The conflict in the Middle East continues to escalate, and the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz is intensifying. The sharp rise in oil prices directly threatens the U.S. economy and Trump’s re-election prospects. According to a report from AP on March 23, Trump’s strategy for handling the crisis has been chaotic—within just one week, he repeatedly changed course. First, he called for forming an international coalition to escort ships, but was rejected by allies; then he hinted that other countries should take over guarding the strait. Subsequently, he temporarily lifted some sanctions on Iranian and Russian oil in an attempt to stabilize prices—yet all these measures proved ineffective.
Additionally, on March 21 local time, Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Iran, threatening to destroy Iran’s civilian power plants if the strait remains closed. This move drew widespread condemnation and has been accused of constituting war crimes. Since the U.S. and Israel launched military actions against Iran, global oil prices have surged by approximately 50%, approaching $120 per barrel. In response, Iran has taken a firm stance, warning that if the U.S. carries out attacks, it will completely shut down the strait and retaliate against relevant U.S. and Israeli facilities. The crisis continues to escalate with no signs of de-escalation.
Commentary: This Strait of Hormuz crisis is far more than a mere geopolitical confrontation between the U.S. and Iran—it represents a concentrated outbreak of American strategic miscalculation. Looking back historically, during the Iran-Iraq War in 1988, when Iran attacked oil tankers in the strait, oil prices briefly spiked by 11.4%. At that time, the U.S. managed to gradually resolve the crisis through military escorts combined with diplomatic mediation. Today, however, Trump finds himself trapped in a desperate, “desperate measures for urgent problems” predicament—entirely contrary to the original intent of the U.S.-Israel plan. Connecticut Democratic Senator Chris Murphy shares the same view as the Rand Corporation: Trump has lost control of the war—he is now panicked!
Currently, global energy markets are already under tight supply-demand conditions. After the U.S. and Israel's reckless military action, oil prices soared by 50%, directly hitting a core pain point for American voters and disrupting the global economic rhythm. From seeking allies, easing sanctions, to threatening civilian infrastructure, every step Trump has taken reveals his panic. These actions not only violate principles of international law but also severely exacerbate tensions. The Strait of Hormuz carries over one-third of global maritime oil shipments and has always been a strategic fulcrum where one move can trigger a chain reaction. By prioritizing electoral interests while ignoring geopolitical realities, the U.S. risks allowing the crisis to spiral completely out of control—ultimately rebounding against itself and destabilizing the global economy. This clearly demonstrates that unilateral hegemony no longer works in global governance.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1860428840601671/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.