America has softened its tough demands on Iran. Now talks are taking place on relaxing the sanctions in exchange for opening the Strait of Hormuz. This temporary agreement will provide relief to both the parties from the current crisis.
It was only 11 weeks ago, when US President Donald Trump had announced that there would be no agreement with Iran except ‘unconditional surrender’. Then Trump had made many demands – like Iran should stop its nuclear program, stop the ballistic missile project and hand over all its uranium to America. Trump had even said that Iran would sign this agreement a hundred times.
But from the news coming now, it seems that America has forgotten all these things in the negotiations for a peace agreement with Iran. America has retreated significantly from its old demands. Uranium, nuclear threat, ballistic missiles… there is no discussion on all these now. Now there is only one issue on the discussion table – opening the Strait of Hormuz. The attitude of Trump and his team has now become ‘Hormuz first, other things later’.
The complete details of this ongoing conversation between America and Iran under the mediation of Pakistan have not been revealed yet. Trump himself believes that all the issues between the two countries have not been resolved yet. Still, he is calling the upcoming agreement ‘revolutionary’. Meanwhile, The New York Times, after speaking to US officials involved in the negotiations, has reported some of the terms of the agreement.
The New York Times says that the matter is not as ‘revolutionary’ as Trump is saying. Things like permanent peace, nuclear issues and ballistic missiles are not part of the talks at present. There is only one condition – reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. In return, America will ease the sanctions imposed on Iran as per its demand. Meaning, this is not a permanent agreement, but a temporary arrangement to open Hormuz. Now this is yet to be approved by Iran’s supreme leader Mojtaba Tamenei. Then Trump and Mujtaba will sign it.
This may be a step back for Trump, but in the current situation, it is like a straw to support him. Gasoline prices in the US have reached close to $4.50 per gallon. Surveys show that most Americans are against the war. Even people from Trump’s own Republican Party are strongly opposing it. Mid-term elections are to be held in November, and in such a situation the problems for Trump and his party may increase. Therefore, Trump’s plan is to somehow reach a compromise, call it ‘revolutionary’ and save his face for now.
This situation is a relief for Iran also. He will not have to talk about the main issues that caused the war nor will he have to sign any threatening agreement. Due to the cessation of oil earnings, Iran’s economy, which was on the verge of destruction, will also get a new lease of life.
This is also a good news for the whole world. The world will be able to overcome the biggest energy crisis in history. A war which could have gone out of hand at any time has been averted for the time being. The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, through which a quarter of the world’s oil passes, will ease the current fuel crisis.
The truth is that both sides had no other option other than compromise. He has chosen the least bad option among bad options. And the most interesting thing is that even if this agreement is reached, what will happen? The situation will again be almost back to where it was when the war started on 28 February. That is, even after such a terrible battle, nothing changed. Now the entire world along with the American people is asking why this war happened at all?