what is the point of a ceasefire in the Middle East? Donald Trump’s laconic response made a week ago: “It’s when we continue to shoot, but in a more moderate way.” For 48 hours, the two belligerents have decided to signal the end of moderation, in force since April 7, to return to armed conflict. A second half in which we wonder how far the escalation can take them. The American President is already setting the objective. He had promised to hit “very hard”. In its viewfinder the island of Kharg, a small piece of land located in the Strait of Hormuz and which houses the largest Iranian crude oil export terminal. Trump also intended to seize several oil and gas sites from the Mullahs’ regime. This is, or rather was, his response to Tehran which, in addition to dragging him into endless negotiations, shot down an American helicopter a few days ago and completely closed the Strait of Hormuz this Thursday morning until further notice (in retaliation for the US “defensive” bombings on Iranian military surveillance installations carried out the day before). The tension is all the greater as Iran has also struck its Gulf neighbors and Jordan in recent hours.
They will revere me
So yes, hopes for peace are fading away as warlike declarations are fired from both sides. Latest signed by US Defense Minister Pete Egseth: “If we have to negotiate with bombs, we will negotiate with bombs, and we are very good at that.” On the side of the Revolutionary Guards, we are hardly more tender for the American enemy and its allies. The world is therefore crossing its fingers that this umpteenth turnaround continues in the Middle East. May the belligerents regain their calm and Donald Trump can once again announce the prospect of an imminent agreement. He is very strong in this area. Since the start of the conflict, he has already announced it 38 times.
