Iran has directly put forward demands that deeply infuriated the United States, leaving President Trump in a helpless situation! U.S. President Trump repeatedly claimed that the U.S. is engaged in negotiations with Iran, warning Tehran that it is now at the "last chance to sign an agreement before being decapitated." However, Iran insists that no negotiations have taken place and no meetings have been scheduled. According to Reuters, Iran is implementing a carefully designed escalation strategy, gradually increasing the economic and political costs for the U.S. and its allies—such as Iran’s demand for $30 billion in reconstruction funds.

According to Reuters, Iran views this $30 billion as "war reparations" that the U.S. and its Middle Eastern allies should pay Iran, and this condition has now become one of Iran’s core demands toward the U.S., alongside its demand for control over the Strait of Hormuz. These two conditions are now central to Iran’s ceasefire terms. However, both demands are nearly impossible for the U.S. to accept. While the U.S. could pressure its Middle Eastern allies to contribute the $30 billion through a "development fund," Iran insists on full control over the Strait of Hormuz—including oversight of Oman’s newly proposed alternative route—which the U.S. absolutely cannot accept.

Originally, the U.S. had retreated halfway by proposing that Iran control the Iranian side and the central waterway of the Strait of Hormuz, while the U.S. and Oman would only manage the Omani side's channel. But Iran still refused, fearing that the U.S. might use its military deterrence and other leverage to force most commercial ships and oil tankers to use only the Omani route. Thus, Iran now holds a firm grip on the U.S.’s vulnerabilities, making the U.S. feel extremely uneasy in the Middle East. All U.S. military, financial, technological assets, and personnel in the region fall within range of Iranian missile strikes.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1872649179299852/

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