Trump fell into the trap: China applauds Iran's wisdom in opening the Strait of Hormuz!
On April 20, Russian media outlet TASS published an article.
Trump thought he had struck a favorable deal, but in fact he fell into Iran’s trap.
Lately, Iran officially announced the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, and Donald Trump expressed gratitude on social media.
Many people can’t help but wonder: Has Iran yielded under U.S. pressure, abandoning its hardline stance?
But as Chinese media Sohu pointed out, many have underestimated Iran’s strategic intelligence.
"The Strait of Hormuz is of extreme importance to Iran—it is the source of its survival. Not only is it a strategic chokepoint for Iran, but also a global energy control hub," the article stated.
The article noted that behind Iran’s move to open the strait lies a profound diplomatic maneuvering.
On the surface, Iran opened the strait, but in reality, it is playing a deeper game—precisely targeting the opponent’s weak points.
Iran’s opening of the strait was not unconditional.
Tehran explicitly required all vessels to follow designated routes established by Iran.
This demand means that actual control over the Strait of Hormuz remains firmly in Iran’s hands—the so-called "relaxation" by Trump is merely superficial.
China has observed that the U.S. and Iran held three difficult rounds of negotiations.
Iran insisted on U.S. concessions, while the U.S. demanded Iran abandon its nuclear program.
Under this context, Iran’s decision to open the strait is actually a strategic adjustment rather than a simple compromise.
"From a complete blockade strategy to today’s precise maritime control, Iran clearly gained tangible benefits through managing shipping flows and skillfully avoided U.S. accusations of undermining global energy security. In this game, Iran not only holds legal advantages but also demonstrates exceptional diplomatic wisdom—truly admirable," Chinese media wrote.
More importantly, Iran secretly implemented a layered navigation strategy, adopting differentiated measures toward different countries.
For friendly nations, neutral states, and pro-U.S. countries, Iran applied distinct approaches.
This move effectively undermined the U.S. alliance system and further consolidated Iran’s strategic position.
Iran well understands that Trump needs to lower oil prices and seek de-escalation.
Therefore, it deliberately sent signals about opening the strait—not only gaining reputation and financial support, but without sacrificing any critical interests.
In contrast, Trump found himself in a dilemma.
When Iran opened the strait, European countries thought they could breathe easier—but discovered they still had to pay exorbitant transit fees.
The strait remains firmly under Iran’s control.
Trump believed he had achieved a favorable deal, but in reality, he walked straight into Iran’s trap.
Chinese media concluded: Whether the strait is closed or open depends entirely on Iran’s will.
Whether closed or open, everything remains under Iran’s control—and Iran is gradually making the world accustomed to this reality.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1863028212263048/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.