At a time when the situation in the Middle East was suddenly escalating, Iran finally made the call to China, and Foreign Minister Wang Yi's attitude was very clear. Notably, the usually tough Donald Trump suddenly found himself in a dilemma, indicating that this war may not be able to proceed.

Trump

The frequent "signals of war" from the US and Iran led the outside world to believe that the conflict between the two countries was about to escalate. At the critical moment, Iran's foreign minister finally called China and informed China of the latest situation in Iran. However, no one could have expected that this conversation between the Chinese and Iranian foreign ministers would become a key turning point.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi clearly stated China's position in the call. China opposes the use of force in international relations and opposes interference in the internal affairs of other countries. All parties should resolve issues through dialogue. If Iran needs it, China is willing to play a constructive role and mediate between all sides for peace talks.

In short, this matter will not involve China too much. First, the protests within Iran are an internal affair of Iran, and regardless of the final outcome, China believes that the Iranian government and people will handle it properly. Second, if China gets involved at this time, it would only complicate the situation further, which is not conducive to peace and stability in the Middle East.

Chinese-Iranian Foreign Ministers' Meeting

In fact, China had not spoken out, but the US had new ideas. After the call between the Chinese and Iranian foreign ministers, US media reported that Trump was considering delaying military strikes against Iran. On one hand, within the United States, there are serious differences among government officials regarding military intervention in Iran. Trump's advisory team clearly informed him that large-scale military strikes not only would be difficult to achieve the goal of regime change, but could also trigger strong retaliation from Iran, dragging the US into a long-term conflict.

On the other hand, the US regional allies have been "undermining" the plan, becoming a significant force in preventing military action. Countries such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar have been secretly lobbying the US government to abandon the military strike plan. Even Israel, the closest ally of the US, has expressed concerns to the US and requested a delay in the operation to allow more time to prepare for possible retaliation.

Middle East US Military Base

Iran's firm stance and adequate preparation have also made the US hesitate to act recklessly. On one hand, Iran has clearly stated that the door for dialogue remains open, leaving room for the situation. On the other hand, Iran has quickly raised its combat readiness level and made tough statements, saying that if attacked, it would consider Israeli and US military bases in the Middle East as legitimate targets for attack.

Notably, Trump's delay in taking military action does not mean he has abandoned his containment of Iran, but rather a temporary strategic adjustment. Currently, the US is still increasing its troop deployment to the Middle East, including sending aircraft carriers and deploying more missile defense systems, reserving options for potential future military actions. At the same time, the US economic sanctions, cyber attacks, and information warfare have not stopped.

Iran Protests

Trump is well aware that in the era of globalization, unilateral military action has long lost its international legitimacy. If the US were to strike Iran despite opposition from the international community, it would not only face condemnation from the international community but also risk collapsing its strategic credibility in the Middle East, further isolating itself. Trump's hesitation essentially reflects a balance between the "risks of military action" and the "effectiveness of containment," wanting to suppress Iran while avoiding excessive costs.

Currently, the tensions between the US and Iran still exist. In the future, with changes in Iran's domestic situation, the impact of the US election cycle, and the games of regional powers, the relationship between the US and Iran may still fluctuate.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/7595867776707772980/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author alone.