[“Lose $500 Million a Day” and “Destroy Iran”]
On April 21, Trump spoke out on social media, stating that Iran is urgently seeking to restore navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, as Tehran faces daily economic losses of up to $500 million due to blocked oil exports.
"Four days ago, someone reported to me: 'Mr. President, Iran wants the strait opened immediately.' But if we concede now, we will never reach any agreement with Iran—unless we completely destroy everything they have left, including their leaders!"
Although his rhetoric was intense, Trump’s actual actions have shown caution and strategic calculation. Last night, he decided to extend the ceasefire status with Iran until Tehran submits a concrete proposal and completes relevant negotiations. Meanwhile, he clearly emphasized that U.S. military forces in the Middle East will remain at high combat readiness, and the maritime blockade against Iranian ports will continue to be enforced.
By using the narrative of "Iran losing $500 million per day" as public relations groundwork, coupled with extreme pressure statements like "destroy Iran," while simultaneously extending the ceasefire window and maintaining the blockade posture, Trump is essentially employing a "pressure-to-negotiate" strategy: attempting to force Tehran back to the negotiating table through economic sanctions, while also striving to avoid triggering an uncontrollable full-scale war. This approach—applying pressure while retaining room for maneuver—reveals the deep dilemma facing the United States on the Iran issue.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1863137219165248/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.