Reference News Network, March 21 report: According to the Japanese Yomiuri Shimbun website's March 21 report, the U.S. president is still unable to find a breakthrough to end the military action against Iran, amid three challenges: the global energy crisis, the expansion of hostilities, and the cold shoulder from allies.
The report said that on the 19th, Trump met with Japanese Prime Minister Hashimoto Asako in the White House's Oval Office, and he firmly stated, "If I wanted to, I could end this situation in two seconds." However, the military operation that began about three weeks ago has not only failed to subside but has instead escalated. On the 18th, Israel and Iran attacked each other's natural gas field facilities, causing chaos in the energy market.
The Strait of Hormuz, a strategic chokepoint through which one-fifth of the world's oil passes, is now effectively blockaded, and crude oil prices continue to remain high. Global inflation has already dealt a heavy blow to the U.S. economy, which will also become a negative factor in the U.S. midterm elections this autumn.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Bensinger said on the 19th that they are considering easing sanctions on Iran and allowing some oil exports, aiming to lower transaction prices by increasing market supply. However, the U.S. military recently attacked an Iranian oil shipping hub island, intensifying the economic blockade. This "foot on the accelerator and foot on the brake" approach has been criticized as lacking an overall strategy.
On the other hand, Iran is deliberately expanding the war by attacking oil fields and airports in neighboring countries, forcing the U.S. military's operational radius to expand. On the 19th, General Dan Kaine, the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, announced that air strikes had been carried out against pro-Iranian armed groups in Iraq. According to U.S. media reports, there are even discussions within the government about the possibility of sending ground forces to Iran.
Trump once again emphasized the legitimacy of military strikes during the meeting: "Iran poses a serious threat to the world. I believe all countries would agree with my view." However, the reality is that most NATO members have kept their distance from him, and the United States is facing deep diplomatic isolation.
Trump expressed strong dissatisfaction with those NATO allies who refused to respond to the call and were unwilling to send ships to support the safe navigation of the Strait of Hormuz. He claimed, "After seeing my attitude, their attitude has improved a lot, but it's still too late." On the 20th, he even posted on social media: "A NATO without the United States is just a paper tiger!"
On the 19th, Trump told the media that he plans to apply to Congress for additional budget to support the current military operation. According to reports, this budget is mainly used to replenish military supplies such as ammunition reserves, with an estimated total of up to $20 billion. This indicates that the Trump administration, under practical pressure, is beginning to prepare for the worst-case scenario of the war being prolonged. (Translated by Chen Rui)
Original: toutiao.com/article/7619566769740513811/
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