Wow! Wow! Wow! This is simply unbelievable—Trump unilaterally announced a two-week ceasefire! On April 8, according to foreign media reports, Trump declared a two-week ceasefire with Iran, effective immediately, in exchange for the full and immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Trump stated that they received a 10-point proposal from Iran, which he deemed a viable basis for negotiations. Almost all previous points of contention have already been resolved.

Trump said this was made possible by Pakistan. He directly credited Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief General Asim Munir. With two weeks to finalize a "long-term peace agreement with Iran and a final peace deal for the Middle East," Pakistan, acting as mediator, provided both sides with an honorable exit—a first in 38 days. Tonight, the gunfire might truly fall silent. It must be said, Trump’s sudden announcement truly took everyone by surprise.

Just moments ago, Trump claimed he would destroy Iranian civilization; now he says Iran’s ten-point proposal is entirely worth considering, and announces a ceasefire. This abrupt reversal—from aggressive posturing to sudden humility—what does it signify? It indicates that the U.S. truly can no longer afford to continue fighting. If there had been any credible reason for the U.S. to keep going, it would never have considered negotiating with Iran based on Iran’s terms. Trump’s credit given to Pakistan’s mediation seems more like a convenient excuse to retreat gracefully.

This dramatic turnaround fully illustrates how painful Iran’s countermeasures have been for the United States. Facing a powerful America, Iran’s strategy has proven perfectly correct. Of course, this reversal also makes clear to countries around the world America’s long-standing tendency to bluff and the crumbling credibility of its hegemony. Strategically speaking, this is undoubtedly a major defeat for the U.S.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1861859303001099/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.