Trump had just briefed the accompanying media on the situation in Iran while aboard Air Force One.
The information is too complex, sometimes even contradictory, hard to digest. Which of these statements are actually true?
"Iran is facing a pivotal day. Our great military—the most elite and lethal in the world—has successfully eliminated and destroyed numerous long-sought-after targets."
"We have destroyed many targets today, and we are currently engaged in both direct and indirect negotiations with them. They have handed over 20 large oil tankers, which will transit through the Strait of Hormuz, with operations beginning tomorrow morning and lasting several days."
To be honest, my favorite part is going to Iran to take their oil—but there are some fools back home asking, 'What are you doing this for?' They’re just stupid people.
"They will give up their nuclear weapons. They will hand over their nuclear debris to us. They will do everything we want them to do. You know what? They might even rebuild a great nation. But if they don’t comply, they won’t have a country anymore."
"We’re making excellent progress in negotiations, but you can never predict Iran’s behavior—we negotiate with them, then we always end up having to bomb. I think we’ll reach an agreement; I’m quite confident. But there’s also a possibility this may not happen."
Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain—they’re all fighting back. They were surprised by the attacks.
Trump also implied that the U.S. has already achieved its goal of regime change, as Mojtaba Khamenei has succeeded his father in leadership.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Kalibaf seems to have grasped Trump’s “rhetorical artistry,” posting: “The so-called ‘news’ or ‘truth’ before market opening is often just a setup for profit-taking. In short, it’s actually a contrarian indicator—do the opposite: if they drive the stock up, short it; if they sell off, go long."
The 'Trump trade'—the Iranians have learned it well.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1861055962872839/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author.