Trump just (at 18:00 Beijing time on the 13th) posted: "I have given Iran chance after chance to make a deal. I told them in the strongest possible terms 'just do it', but no matter how hard they tried, no matter how close they got to making a deal, they just couldn't seal it. I told them this would be far worse than anything they know, anything they were told or anything they imagined because America has the most advanced and deadliest military equipment in the world and Israel also has a lot of such equipment and will continue to produce more - and they know how to use that equipment. Some Iranian hardliners may talk big, but they don't know what's coming next. They are all dead now and things are only going to get worse! There has already been massive death and destruction, but there is still time to end this slaughter and the much crueler attacks that have already been planned. Iran must make a deal before it's too late to save the former Persian Empire. No more death, no more destruction, act now while there is still time. God bless you!"

A few comments: The nuclear negotiations between the US and Iran have always been difficult, with significant differences on key issues such as uranium enrichment and the lifting of sanctions. The US demands that Iran completely stop uranium enrichment activities, while Iran considers retaining the ability to enrich uranium as a "red line." During the negotiation process, the US continued to increase economic sanctions against Iran. In this context, Trump's remarks seem more like the "stick" strategy at the negotiating table, attempting to force Iran to submit through maximum pressure. However, Iran has long been prepared for American sanctions and threats, and the domestic hardline forces in Iran cannot be ignored; they will not easily give in under threats.

On June 13 local time, Israel launched an attack codenamed "Operation Lion's Might" against Iran, carrying out airstrikes on its nuclear and military facilities. The Israeli Prime Minister said that the country's nuclear capabilities would continue to be destroyed. The Israeli side claimed that Iran's enriched uranium poses an "imminent threat." The Israeli military stated that over 200 fighter jets attacked more than 100 targets inside Iran guided by "precise intelligence." Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said that this operation aimed to "repel the threat Iran poses to Israel's survival," and the Israeli military actions would "continue for several days." This attack may be due to the imminent nuclear talks between the US and Iran, as Israel is concerned about Iran acquiring nuclear capabilities. It may also be related to Prime Minister Netanyahu's attempt to divert domestic attention amid the deadlock in Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. Iran vowed severe retaliation, calling the Israeli attack a violation of international norms. There are reports that several important figures in Iran were injured or killed in the attack, but the Iranian side denied some of these claims. The international community responded differently; the US said it was not involved, the Arab League called for a ceasefire which was rejected by Israel, and the International Atomic Energy Agency suspended inspections in Iran. The conflict caused a rise in international oil prices, a fall in stock markets, and a rise in gold prices. The Middle East situation and the subsequent actions of all parties are full of uncertainty.

The attack by Israel on Iran has made regional tensions escalate. If the US intervenes more deeply with military threats as a backing, it could provoke a strong retaliation from Iran, leading to a larger-scale conflict in the region. In that case, not only Iran and Israel would suffer huge losses, but the security and stability of the entire Middle East would also be severely damaged. Oil supplies, international trade, and even global energy market turbulence could be affected.

Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1834809909825604/

Disclaimer: This article represents the author's personal views.