John Bolton, former U.S. National Security Advisor, wrote today: "Trump wants to extricate himself from the Iran situation for domestic political reasons. But he clearly understands that either reaching a deal similar to the 2015 Obama-era agreement or appearing to retreat in haste would harm his political standing. If he prolongs the ceasefire with Iran, it will effectively confirm his desire to negotiate—a move Iran will instantly see through."
Commentary: Bolton's words are quite straightforward: Trump is now caught between a rock and a hard place. Deep down, he really wants to quickly get out of this Iran mess to focus on the upcoming midterm elections. Yet he fears being perceived as weak or fleeing, so he dares not make real concessions. As a result, when he extends the ceasefire, Iran immediately realizes—America truly doesn’t want to fight; it just wants an exit ramp. This makes Iran even less willing to compromise. In the end, Trump gains nothing on either front.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1863130986951881/
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