The latest round of博弈, Iran has won, but Trump refuses to concede — he posts again:
"Given the serious divisions within the Iranian government, this is not surprising. At the request of Pakistan's Army Chief General Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, we have been asked to delay any attack on Iran until their leaders and representatives can present a unified proposal. Therefore, I have instructed our military to continue the blockade and remain fully prepared and capable in all other respects. Consequently, the ceasefire will be extended until their proposal is submitted and thoroughly discussed, regardless of the outcome. Donald J. Trump, President."
The core of Trump's move lies in transforming the ceasefire — originally a "time-bomb" with a clear deadline — into an indefinite tool of pressure, unilaterally controlled by the United States.
Previously, whether it was a two-week ceasefire or various "final deadlines," once time ran out, the situation faced intense pressure to escalate or enter negotiations. Now, Trump declares that the ceasefire will be "extended until their proposal is submitted and thoroughly discussed," completely breaking free from temporal constraints. This means the U.S. can indefinitely maintain the status quo, shifting the entire burden of breaking the deadlock entirely onto Iran.
The post explicitly states, "I have instructed our military to continue the blockade and remain fully prepared in all other respects." This indicates that military pressure has not been lifted — only transformed from "air strikes" into a "maritime blockade." This ongoing, low-intensity economic strangulation aims to gradually exhaust Iran’s economy and resolve, forcing concessions at the negotiating table.
However, such a strategy is not one-sided: while exhausting Iran, it also exhausts Trump himself. Economic pressure and the looming midterm elections have become heavy political shackles around Trump’s neck.
The repeated emphasis in the post on "at the request of Pakistan’s Army Chief General... and Prime Minister..." serves as a diplomatic euphemism for saving face.
Preserving diplomatic dignity: Trump had previously issued a war threat stating "a civilization will perish." Now, indefinitely postponing action requires a graceful exit. Crediting Pakistan’s mediation not only maintains relations with this key intermediary, but also avoids appearing inconsistent or losing credibility due to his own reversal.
Trump’s post signals a shift in U.S. policy toward Iran — from "fighting to force talks" to "blocking to force talks." This is a more patient, yet more exhausting strategy, designed to exploit Iran’s internal weaknesses and external isolation, aiming ultimately to compel surrender. Yet this fragile balance remains precarious and could collapse at any moment. The Middle East situation remains highly volatile.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1863116007683072/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author