Middle East War: Strait of Hormuz Closed, Peace Agreement "Far Off"

On Sunday, France's international edition newspapers continued to focus on the Middle East Gulf War situation. Due to the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports, Iran once again closed the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz on Sunday. The ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran is set to expire in three days. Currently, peace negotiations between Iran and the U.S. are "making progress," but reaching a final peace agreement remains a long way off.

Progress in U.S.-Iran Talks, But Final Agreement Still Far Off

Le Figaro reported that on Saturday evening, Iran's Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf stated that the U.S. "must abandon its imposing posture," emphasizing that while peace talks between Iran and the U.S. have made progress, a final agreement remains "far off." Significant differences still exist, with fundamental issues unresolved, and he stressed that Iran has no confidence whatsoever in the United States.

Similarly, Le Monde's front page also focused on the Middle East conflict, noting that tensions escalated again after the Strait of Hormuz was closed once more. After briefly reopening for commercial traffic for one day, Iran announced on Saturday that due to the continued U.S. Navy blockade of Iranian ports, it had re-imposed "strict control" over passage through the strait. Subsequently, several vessels in the region were attacked by Iranian artillery fire. On Saturday, three merchant ships attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz were attacked.

Meanwhile, prospects for restarting U.S.-Iran ceasefire talks remain unclear. The newspaper reported that Pakistan's Prime Minister and Chief of Army Staff have completed diplomatic mediation efforts, visiting Iran as well as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey.

In addition, Egypt’s Foreign Minister Abdullatif al-Sayed, speaking in Antalya, Turkey, stated that he is working "diligently" with Pakistan to mediate diplomatically, hoping to achieve a "final agreement" "in the near future."

However, hopes for a swift resumption of negotiations between Tehran and Washington appear uncertain. On Saturday, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister said that no further meeting dates have yet been determined between the two sides and noted: "We are currently focused on finalizing the framework for talks. Iran does not wish to participate in negotiations or meetings that are destined to fail and could serve as an excuse for further escalation of the situation."

U.S. President Trump responded to the renewed closure of the Strait of Hormuz: "They want to close the strait again—they cannot blackmail us." The U.S. president also mentioned that both sides are engaged in "excellent dialogue" aimed at achieving a permanent end to hostilities in the Middle East.

The Iranian Supreme National Security Council confirmed that they are reviewing the new proposal submitted by Washington, while clearly stating that "no concessions will be made" during negotiations with Washington.

The Decline of a Great Empire

An article on the front page of Al-Akhbar analyzed that throughout history, the decline of powerful empires has often been accelerated by incompetent, irresponsible, tyrannical, capricious, or even outright mad leaders—such as Roman Emperor Commodus and U.S. President Donald Trump.

The newspaper argues that regardless of the outcome of this war between the U.S. and Iran, and regardless of motives, Trump’s war against Iran will be a significant event in the history of American decline. The decline of a great power is a slow process; its consequences—from defeat to disastrous decisions—are unpredictable, and their impact is not immediately apparent.

The analysis notes that since the end of World War II, especially after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the United States established its global influence, possessing the world’s most powerful military machine—the U.S. armed forces. Under American leadership, a global order based on laws, rules, treaties, and alliances was built, promoting trade and exchange, benefiting the U.S., and enabling prosperity in many other nations.

American expansion has been accompanied by the spread of its soft power and civilizational influence—such as the American way of life—continuously reinforcing America’s position as a global leader. However, increasingly monopolistic financial interests, driven by greed, have eroded internal stability. Inadequate responses to challenges like immigration pressures, pandemics, and natural disasters have dramatically exacerbated inequality within the U.S.—paralleling the decline of the Roman Empire, which was accelerated by incompetent, irresponsible, tyrannical, and capricious leaders holding supreme power.

Given that Trump is dismantling the world order established since 1945, China can position itself as a rational symbol of geopolitical stability, addressing climate crises, and ensuring the continuity of "New Silk Road" trade.

The newspaper pointed out that the fall of the Roman Empire, born in Europe, left Europe as the only region capable of preventing a new era of chaos triggered by American decline. Europe must strengthen its alliances and join forces with other nations equally eager to unite in defense of their independence and freedom.

Source: rfi

Original: toutiao.com/article/1862909064166407/

Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author