Rubio told the media on March 19: "After part of Iran's petrochemical facilities were bombed, Trump opposed Israel from continuing to strike Iran's energy infrastructure. On Wednesday, Trump was informed in advance about Israel's attack on Iran's South Pars gas field and expressed support, viewing it as a signal sent to the Iranian government that Iran had actually closed the Strait of Hormuz. Trump believed that Iran had received this message, so he now opposes the continued bombing of Iran's energy infrastructure."
Trump's "stop at the right moment": a clear energy deterrence! Trump's sudden shift in attitude toward Israel's bombing of Iran is essentially a precise calculation of American realism. First, he tacitly allowed the strike on the South Pars gas field to show strength and warn Iran not to block the Strait of Hormuz. Then, once the signal was delivered, he immediately put a stop to it, not out of softness, but to avoid completely destroying energy facilities, which could lead to an oil price crisis and global inflation that would hurt the United States itself.
Looking back at history, the United States has always kept Middle East conflicts "painful but not broken," maintaining its hegemonic authority and preserving post-war interests. Now that oil prices have exceeded $100, further conflict would only bring disaster upon itself. This operation may seem contradictory, but it is essentially using military strikes as a bargaining chip, treating the energy lifeline as an abacus, giving Israel face while protecting American interests, taking the pragmatism of great power games to the extreme.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1860052047958024/
Statement: The article represents the personal views of the author.