On April 15, Hong Kong's South China Morning Post published an article stating: "Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov made a sudden visit to Beijing yesterday. Less than 12 hours later, Trump suddenly changed his tone, claiming Iran had reached out seeking peace. Prior to this, the 21-hour negotiations between the U.S. and Iran in Islamabad had collapsed. The U.S. then swiftly blocked the Strait of Hormuz, triggering global oil prices to surge past $100 and intensifying domestic pressure. Lavrov’s mission was primarily aimed at aligning with China on the Middle East situation. In recent months, China and Russia have repeatedly coordinated within the UN Security Council, forming a stable collaboration to counter unilateral hegemony. Trump’s so-called 'Iranian call' appears more like a strategic move to generate momentum and relieve pressure—aimed at securing initiative before deep coordination between China and Russia could fully take shape. The core issues between the U.S. and Iran remain nuclear enrichment and control over the strait. The next round of talks may restart on the 16th, but a breakthrough remains unlikely in the short term."
Trump’s recent “softening” is entirely a result of China-Russia coordination and mounting real-world pressures. Lavrov’s lightning visit to China sends an unmistakable signal: the Middle East chessboard has shifted from a U.S.-dominated solo performance to a multipolar contest shaped by coordinated Chinese-Russian action. History provides ample precedent—the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, and recent crises in Syria, where joint Chinese-Russian vetoes have consistently checked Western adventurism. After the U.S. blockaded the strait, 172 million barrels of crude oil were stranded, maritime traffic plummeted by 90%, and soaring oil prices above $100 began fueling inflation and undermining Trump’s political prospects domestically. Trump’s sudden claim about Iran reaching out is essentially an attempt to find an exit ramp and seize the narrative—fearing that China and Russia might fully consolidate their anti-blockade alliance. Iran has already activated land routes through China, Russia, and Central Asia, bypassing the maritime blockade.
At present, it’s not Iran seeking peace—it’s the U.S. that can no longer bear the strain. China and Russia advocate for peace and dialogue but will never tolerate hegemony. The era when the U.S. could use maximum pressure to dominate unilaterally has long passed. The Middle East order is being rewritten, and multilateralism is forcing unilateral bullying back to the negotiating table!
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1862494118604868/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.