Key points:
– US plans to extend the ceasefire indefinitely to allow more time for negotiations
– It remains unclear whether Iran or Israel will agree to the extension
– Ongoing tensions and incidents in the Strait of Hormuz continue to threaten stability
1607
Idiot_Savant_133 days ago
+1586
The U.S. seems to think it has the unilateral ability to decide & declare things on behalf of Iran.
I suspect this has been a sticking point in negotiations.
1586
shep21053 days ago
+56
Iran didn't even SHOW UP to negotiations. trump actually thought vance was in Pakistan and annouonced "he was on his way" as JD was just pulling into the WH.
They have NO clue that they do not hold the upper hand and thinking that they can say and do anything and Iran will fall into line.
56
apathy4203 days ago
+11
That's why I tell people that there's no way they can rig the midterms. The whole administration is incompetent and cannot work together for shit. Bonus points is when any of his lackeys say something and trump immediately counters it.
11
Idiot_Savant_133 days ago
+8
Meanwhile, all Iran has to do to make Bone Spurs look bad & itself look good?
Do the things they say that they will.
Bone Spurs has set the lowest possible bar for his opponents, and they're easily clearing what he's tripping over.
8
HistorianOrdinary8333 days ago
+536
Trump thinks that. Anyone with a brain in the US knows that's bullshit, including Vance and Rubio, but they're just doing Trump's bidding because they prefer power over doing what's right.
536
Idiot_Savant_133 days ago
+161
Y'know, the more I ponder it... Bone Spurs ain't lookin' good, ain't soundin' good, ain't tryin' as hard as he used to, and was begging for psychedelic antidepressants the other day.
If I was a gamblin' kinda person, I'd wager his days are numbered, he knows it, and it looks like double digits only on the high side.
Maybe Vance & Rubio are just trying to ride out the next few weeks?
161
Expensive-Document413 days ago
+123
Thats the same calculus the GOP (party) has been making since 2020. They like Trump the martyr, the Trump that unified their party and brought a bunch of far right folks back to vote. They dont like Trump the man because hes a spoiled spiteful manchild with no attention span. They need him as a figurehead, but are tripped up by the fact that he has go grand designs past enriching himself and padding his ego and his bungling more often than not ruins whatever actually plan theyre trying to enact.
McConnell et al were waiting for him to kick the bucket so they could invoke Saint Trump without having to deal with the reality of him as a person.
123
NateTheRoofer3 days ago
+98
Hot take but I don’t think they will go the “Saint Trump” route.
I think they will turn on him before his body is cold and say things like “Trump was a monster and I was the lone voice of dissent”
It won’t work but I see that as the most likely scenario.
98
moxievernors3 days ago
+64
It occurs to me the attempted deification of Kirk was a test run. But hardly necessary seeing how he's already getting the North Korean Kims treatment.
64
RevenantXenos3 days ago
+52
Selecting a podcaster to put on a pedestal but then not allowing any discussion of what he said was certainly a choice.
52
3-DMan2 days ago
+28
And giving him f****** military honors
28
reckless_responsibly2 days ago
+5
If they were going to turn on him, they had plenty of opportunities to do so already that were perfectly justifiable. They need him as a ~~distraction~~ figurehead while they destroy the country for the 99.999%
5
CruisinJo2143 days ago
+54
I’m tired of hoping he’ll keel over soon… but I’m also concerned about what fills the void when he’s gone…
He’s lackies and cult followers are going to ride it out for everything it’s worth.
54
Expensive-Document413 days ago
+90
Hot take but I think we collectively as a world need him to live for a while longer because he NEEDS to have his mythology shattered in the U.S. and die hated.
Even now, if he died tomorrow, the U.S. and the world would be stuck with a movement that just got their Saint Trump. All of the deification and martyrdom with none of the baggage of the actual man.
90
dubl1nThunder2 days ago
+6
Like Reagan
6
Wayofchinchilla3 days ago
+17
What scares me the most is in 28 when a Democrat wins that they're just going to try to brush off what's happened these last 8 years the amount of work that needs to be done in this country reforms and tracking down this absolute scum is huge but you can't just let it go.
17
willstr13 days ago
+25
Its a cult of personality, they very rarely last long after the leader passes, especially since he has surrounded himself with people he picked for loyalty instead of brains or charisma. Assuming he passes of natural causes (so he doesn't become a martyr) it is more likely to be just massive infighting rather than anyone truly taking over the cult.
25
FlaccidRazor2 days ago
+9
I would not be surprised if they tried to make him a martyr. The odds are he's going to die with a diaper full of shit either way. They'll say he was poisoned.
Iran seems to be doing pretty good for being absolutely destroyed militarily nd having no leadership. /s
9
tony-toon153 days ago
+7
It’s scary and I’m sure there is something worse in the pipeline, but this is a cult and him dying would be a massive blow to maga. Who exactly fills this position? No one is very well liked. We will see though. I hope it just crumbles, but something smarter and more ruthless will probably take its place since the human race is entering a world of shit.
7
FTwo3 days ago
+6
Vance will play the Widow Kirk once tRump passes away. He will parade the name around like he is P Diddy and get the widowed 1st Lady to come on stage and perform for him as well.
6
FigSideG3 days ago
+8
Trump will live to 105. That’s how it goes.
8
Opinions_ideas3 days ago
+7
What kind of psychedelic anti depressants? haha
7
National-Charity-4353 days ago
+3
Wasn't this the ibogaine he "encouraged" the FDA to approve after rogan would continue being the propaganda piece
3
royale_wthCheEsE3 days ago
+5
At what point does Vance get only one try at a re election? What I mean is , is there a point where he finished enough of a previous president’s term to count as a full term for election purposes? The last thing we need is a president Vance to be in office 10-11 years. I know, unlikely he’d get elected even once , but stranger things have happened.
5
pingu_nootnoot3 days ago
+5
2 years in.
5
reckless_responsibly2 days ago
+2
Anytime before Jan 20. Ideally, the orange makes it to Nov 4 to prevent any sympathy and/or "Everything that's wrong is his fault, not a structural failure of the Republican agenda" votes.
2
KnuckleShanks3 days ago
+7
Mfer posted Sinatra's My Way the other day. He definitely knows his days are numbered.
7
sephtis2 days ago
+2
I just wonder after he finally f****** kicks it, how long will they try to say nah, he's alive and parade out shitty AI trump videos.
2
willstr13 days ago
+1
>Maybe Vance & Rubio are just trying to ride out the next few weeks?
They could always 25th amendment him, it is very obvious that he is not of sound mind which is exactly what the 25th amendment is for
1
reckless_responsibly2 days ago
+5
So long as he's able to make sounds, the 25th is actually harder than an impeachment. If he objects to being 25thed, and he would, it takes 2/3s of both chambers to sustain his removal. An impeachment only requires 50%+1 in the House.
5
gmen69812 days ago
+2
But that impeachment still requires a 2/3 majority in the Senate to remove him.
2
RocketRelm2 days ago
+9
Over two thirds of american electorate thought trump was an acceptable president. "Anyone with a brain" has a ceiling of 30~% percent and is far to take for granted.
9
BestFriendWatermelon3 days ago
+66
It's the "I declare bankruptcy!" of war. The US declares an indefinite cleasefire, Iran indefinitely ceases to be fired upon.
Now Iran can do what it likes, pretty confident that so long as it doesn't kill a bunch of US troops, Trump has absolutely no interest in this conflict any longer.
It's the gulf states that egged Trump on and gave him a plane, bought Trumpcoins, etc that are left holding their dicks. Trump does not care if they're getting hit with Shaheds, they should defend themselves as far as he is concerned.
66
mars_titties3 days ago
+25
I think the gulf states gave him a plane and other emoluments so that he would NOT start a war like this. Whatever their intentions, they’re definitely left holding their dicks.
25
sadacal3 days ago
+18
They absolutely wanted Trump to attack Iran. Do you think the Saudis like having a country that funds terrorist groups in their back yard? Yes, I know, the hypocrisy when they're also a funder of terrorism, but Iran and Saudi Arabia definitely do not get along.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/02/28/trump-iran-decision-saudi-arabia-israel/
18
Rusty512 days ago
+7
Only if the regime was toppled; they weren’t asking for Trump to throw rocks at the hornet nest and leave them deal with the hornets.
7
mars_titties3 days ago
+7
I was thinking more of the other smaller gulf states. They would have wanted Trump to put more of a premium on keeping the strait open in his er, “calculations”.
7
snksleepy3 days ago
+5
Negotiate with us. Wait before here's a slap.
5
CursorX3 days ago
+5
The only time that can work is if Iran surrenders. And bombing from the air will not result in a surrender.
5
Moore22573 days ago
+6
I mean...they tried it with Ukraine. That went SUPER well.
President of Peace, yadda, yadda, yadda.
6
08TangoDown082 days ago
+3
Trump thinks this about everything. He doesn't just think he's the US president, he thinks he's the world president. He thinks he can just swagger around and tell everyone what to do.
3
SpiroG2 days ago
+3
~~The U.S.~~ Trump seems to think it has the unilateral ability to decide & declare things on behalf of ~~Iran.~~ every single f****** other nation on this planet.
Seriously, someone needs to shut him up or at least take over his socials. Just bench the b****** and send him off to play golf all day or something...
Sick and tired of Trump's "X happened!!!1!" and then everyone is confused as hell because X definitely didn't happen and, in fact, the laws of physics and common sense prevent it from ever happening in this reality.
3
CaptainCanuck933 days ago
+26
I mean the USA is essentially trying to Brest-Litovsk the situation. "If we just unilaterally stop fighting the war is over, right?"
Sorry you don't just get to unbomb those schools and bring the family members of Iran's leader back to life. You broke it, you bought it
26
Euler0073 days ago
+2
Just hit undo.
2
BadmiralHarryKim3 days ago
+6
Should have saved the game before the attack just in case.
6
CaptainCanuck933 days ago
+3
I mean at this point just go back to the save point before you elected a child rapist and threatened your allies
3
okram2k3 days ago
+3
I feel like at some point in this administration we're going to get told there's a "special military operation" going on from Trump and then it turns out everyone around him just fed him deepfakes to make him think he invaded some random country he doesn't like
3
Idiot_Savant_133 days ago
+2
Truman Show-ing Bone Spurs would have been cheaper, better, & more entertaining than this shit show.
2
jert32 days ago
+5
The child rapist who plays a president on TV believes that yes, he can just shout out nonsense and it is law, as his enablers and puppetmasters have told him so.
5
ryapeter3 days ago
+5
The tactics work. Even europe never come out in media screaming out loud calling him a liar in chief. Iran the first one with balls to call him out.
Everyone know us can’t be trusted. Just need to keep saying it out loud.
The history book will say. How china rise to power by doing nothing
5
Idiot_Savant_132 days ago
+3
You're very right, tho China has elected to be patient - which is precisely doing nothing (as you said) with deliberation rather than powerlessness.
Not unexpected, either, and I think other world powers might be rather relieved rn to see China maintaining composure.
3
CRUSTBUSTICUS2 days ago
+3
Breaking news: countries with large political leverage and influence use that leverage and influence to benefit themselves even at the expense of other nations
More at 11
This is literally the historical status quo it’s just the US this time and not the British empire/french/romans/Egypt/turks/mongols (insert entirety of history here)
3
rokkenrock3 days ago
+91
I find it really funny that whatever the initial intention of the war was, now it’s the strait of Hormuz and only the strait. You know the US is losing it.
91
wil6erness3 days ago
+15
Oops
15
vand3lay1ndustries2 days ago
+6
The intention was to distract from the Epstein files at the cost of our 250 year old democracy.
6
Traditional_Drama_913 days ago
+53
The US hasn’t removed their blockade so the Iranians will seize and attack ships
53
ProteinFarts_3 days ago
+46
I don't think the Iranians are seizing and attacking ships because of the blockade, I think they are doing that as a strategy for enforcing their toll. Which they would be doing regardless of the blockade.
There's not much they can do to react to the blockade. The strait was their leverage and top card and that's been played already.
This is now a battle of attrition between Iran economy, the commitment of the IRGC, and the global economy. It seems China may be affected first... perhaps they will help Iran.
46
wil6erness3 days ago
+6
China is already sending weapons. The US blockade is meaningless though because the US wants the Strait open. It's like punching yourself in the face to stop your bully from beating you up. You lost, bro. Just go home.
6
ProteinFarts_2 days ago
+12
The US wants three things, the strait open, Iran out of control of the strait (no toll), and energy dominance over China. It is willing to sacrifice an open straight as long as it secures the other two options. China is extremely impacted by the closure of the strait, while the US is significantly less so.
The US blockade is an intelligent move in an unintelligent war, and was likely proposed by people in the US government as the only reasonable response left. It's a lose lose situation for the US and the world, so the US is choosing to sacrifice the global economy in order to stick it to China.
12
TheCatfishManatee2 days ago
+2
It seems though that China is a lot better prepared to weather this in the medium to long term than the general US public. Oil prices going up doesn't just affect China
2
Emotional_Camp66432 days ago
+3
Onshore storage capacity does affect Iran.
3
No-Space9372 days ago
+2
Oil is priced globaly, which affects everone. Supply is a different issue. The second the war started and the strait was closed this put a clock on Chinas strategic oil reserves.
With the missing 5 million barrels per day coming from the Strait this puts them at about 7-8 months untill they are empty, however no country is going to willingly let their strategic reserves get that low and the leading indicators for when this becomes a major vulnerability will be coming much sooner than that.
Meanwhile the US is a net oil exporter, and while that does not mean that they pump all their own oil, the heavy oils that their refineries are set up to handle and the supply chains that sustain them are not going to be impacted by the sweet light supply glut from the Strait that they do not import from, and the refineries in the destinations the gulf oil used to ship to are not equiped to switch over to any available heavy oil supply the US is using.
This means the US does not have to worry about changes in supply for it's current production, and the oil it currently produces will be shipping at a premium. Combine this with the fact China used to buy at a steep d******* on the Iranian oil which no longer exists, and the Russian oil it also got a steep d******* on is now no longer sanctioned, so will be MUCH more expensive, and they are no longer gaurunteed to be one of the only buyers. This puts them in a much tighter situation than the US, and will likely be a major factor to use their leverage as one of the few friendly nations to Iran into them accepting a deal.
2
Traditional_Drama_913 days ago
+2
You may be right, either way it’s part of their strategy of cementing control over the strait
2
time_travel_rabbit3 days ago
+10
The USA gave 6 hours warning yet that ship did not listen.
Iran allowed ships to sail then started attacking them.
10
morfraen2 days ago
+4
Just wait for Friday, it will change again. Then again on Monday, and again on Tuesday or Wednesday.
As long as they keep getting away with the market manipulation and insider trading this insane weekly groundhogs day loop will keep going.
4
David_Good_Enough3 days ago
+6
And Friday we will have a *very positive negociation outcome* before another attack from US on Saturday.
6
tykneedanser2 days ago
+3
Shart of the deal
3
Wyciorek3 days ago
+20
What US calls “ceasefire” apparently includes attacking tankers going to Iranian ports.
20
darkslide30002 days ago
+2
This may be a bit too much copium, but maybe the idea is to just bleed Iran out economically now because they noticed that letting the bombing start again is gonna hurt US allies more than it hurts Iran? Maybe they've already bombed almost everything practically worth bombing by now, so now they can just sit back and let the country run out of money. (Not that this is a great strategy, of course, but I could believe that it is legitimately the best one they practically have left at this point... because open war again is gonna blow up more critical Gulf State infrastructure and make them run out of interceptors, and a peace that doesn't leave Iran much stronger than they've ever been seems out of reach right now.)
2
Pardybro9112 days ago
+1
Spoiler alert, Israel is not going to
1
cmbhere2 days ago
+87
Is it open? Is it closed? Nobody knows!! Find out next time on Dragonballz!!
87
fallen_d3mon2 days ago
+20
Aaaaaand 3/4 of the episode is just them grunting and groaning as if they are constipated.
20
KeyAny38003 days ago
+124
This is in response to blockade of the blockade it seems
124
douggieball13123 days ago
+531
It's annoying because in my country, all our government's crisis contingency plans revolve around what to do 'if the strait remains closed a few more weeks' when I think we all need to be seriously prepared for the possibility that it will never reopen. I just don't see how it can when the two sides are light years apart and one of those sides was barking about bombing their whole civilization into dust only last week.
531
Skankator3 days ago
+172
Nah, we made that threat THIS week, too. It’s tough to keep up at this point
172
pineapplesuit73 days ago
+115
Iran’s whole economy relies on the straight being open as well. People are forgetting but this hurts them equally if not more. Chances of this ‘never opening’ are slim to none. Both sides are playing a game of chicken at this point.
115
Super_XIII3 days ago
+77
Yes, but russia absolutely loves this because it distracts europe from ukraine and drives the price of oil up. China also likes seeing the U.S. get its nose bloodied, so both will be helping support the Iranian regime.
77
Quartnsession2 days ago
+10
China relies on c**** oil from Iran. Don't think China is willing to destroy their economy as well by giving weapons to Iran or starting a world war.
10
antifocus2 days ago
+3
Iran is an important source for the diversity, but China doesn't rely on it.
3
Super_XIII2 days ago
+5
If china relies on Iran's oil, than that's all the more reason to give them weapons. China has already seen Trump's gameplan with Venezuela. When he won there he took control of all the oil and is bragging about taking their oil and making so much money off it. They know that if Trump wins in Iran, he's going to take their oil and charge China out the nose for it, collapsing their economy. Plus, if they don't support their ally Iran now, many other countries would be more hesitant to align themselves with china in the future if they left Iran out to dry. It also wouldn't really be a world war, Trump's pissed off NATO badly, if he attacks china for giving weapons to Iran NATO isn't going to back him up.
5
Quartnsession2 days ago
+3
I don't see China throwing away decades of progress over this.
3
Super_XIII2 days ago
+2
exactly. If they let the US take Iran they will lose decades of progress. China wants to take the U.S.'s spot as world leader. Part of that is building up soft power, getting other countries to trust them and become allies with them. Part of that is helping those allies out when they are in trouble. Iran has allied with China. If China leaves them out to dry against the U.S., all the other countries in the world will see this and see that china won't help their allies when they are in need, so why bother allying with them? Plus what do they have to lose? Again, trump demonstrated in Venezuela, when he wins he takes all the oil. So china has no reason to want to end the war on anything outside of Iran's favor, since they would lose the oil anyway, so may as well send weapons to them and help them out, hopefully end it in a stalemate. Also they can just buy oil from russia in the meantime.
2
[deleted]2 days ago
+11
[deleted]
11
Nexism2 days ago
+11
IIRC, around 16% of China's oil comes from the Strait.
Korea however is super dependent.
11
NotADumbPuppet2 days ago
+7
Incorrect. The shipments from the strait to China have been decreasing the last few years. China has significantly improved energy independence and have also stopped export of oil and diesels to keep it domestic.
Of course, this isn't to say that China completely doesn't need the oil from that region or China isn't hurting from this. It is, yes, but are they hurting so much that they will not consider damage to US at the international level and at the superpower level? No, they aren't hurting that much. They will continue to support this conflict. The longer this goes, the more overall leverage China gets on the global stage
7
douggieball13123 days ago
+20
It'll bring massive pain to their own people but their regime really doesn't seem like the kind that cares about that, as long as the regime itself endures. They made that clear with the January/February repressions.
20
Volodio3 days ago
+9
The January protests happened because of economic issues. The longer the strait remains closed, the worse the economic issues get. It is also an issue for resupplying their forces with equipment, because some of it is imported and what is not imported is produced locally using imported dual-use components. Iran does not have an independent supply chain.
That said, it is indeed possible that the IRGC will continue blockading despite these issues, maybe by incompetence, maybe because it believes itself stuck against the wall. But ultimately, it will cause for a weaker Iran.
9
The_Frostweaver3 days ago
+5
The timing doesnt work.
The price of oil will keep going up. Trumps plan is to let the price of gas sit at $5 or $6 dollars going into the midterms?
As long as IRGC believe they can outlast Trump they wont agree to his demands.
The straight could stay closed for 3 years.
5
RollyPollyGiraffe3 days ago
+4
Could stay closed for 3? I imagine at this point it *will* stay closed for at least 3-4. Longer, if the post-Trump admin maintains Trump's current stance or if Iran's stance is still too unpalatable to the US regardless.
4
pineapplesuit73 days ago
+7
Where do you think their regime gets its money from? It is all the oil exports and future tolls that they want to implement here. It is hurting their wallets as well everyday. Eventually they can’t survive if the straight is shut down for a longer period of time. They’re just waiting out on Trump blinking because they know he can’t afford this longer with an election at his heels.
The arguments you’re making are just FUD and more pearl clutching.
7
apathy4203 days ago
+9
I bet Iran can function longer with a collapsed economy than the US can. Not siding with them but I feel like they could outlast us with this one.
9
KristinnK2 days ago
+17
> I bet Iran can function longer with a collapsed economy than the US can.
Perhaps this is true on its face, simply because Iran shoots its own people when they protest, but it isn't very relevant since the U.S.'s economy isn't collapsing. Higher oil prices will damage its economy, sure, but that's far, far, far from collapsing it. Not to mention that the U.S. is a net oil exporter, so a higher oil price means a net (oil trade) gain, and not to mention that the closure of the strait is currently projected to increase oil price by much less than initially believed. Trump meanwhile has made one of the very few smart moves in this conflict by deciding to blockade Iran. Denying Iran oil exports as long as they attack ships navigating the Hormuz is both an appropriate and effective way to punish Iran, and hopefully get them to stop attacking ships.
17
autoeroticassfxation2 days ago
+5
The US isn't at risk of a collapsed economy. The US is the largest oil producer in the world. They kind of stand to benefit whichever way this goes.
5
2Nails2 days ago
+2
And the US oil producers will make bank, but that won't necessarily transfer to the general US economy.
2
SchemeWestern33883 days ago
+41
It’s in everyone’s interest to see the straight open, Iran most of all. It will reopen.
41
douggieball13123 days ago
+41
I hope so as much as you, but that would depend on everyone acting like rational human beings for two goddamn seconds and I'm seeing scarily little evidence of that on all sides so far. Each side is terrified of blinking first and looking weak and most people just don't think rationally once they're in that kind of mentality, let alone the kind of people we're talking about here.
41
foghillgal3 days ago
+26
Iran will let their people die before the regime keels and have a lot of leverage they haven\`t used yet and for them one upping the US is like winning the superbowl.
And lets we forget, Israel and the US killed most of the previous leadership and attacked first DURING NEGOTIATIONS. That\`s something pretty hard to move past for the Iran side.
26
StuffMaster3 days ago
+4
This is an air/sea war. Quitting is easy and not quitting is very expensive. It'll happen.
4
Magickarpet763 days ago
+6
I do not think it is in Russia’s best interest to open the straight. The US partially benefits from keeping it closed as well. I think Trump prefers the world to be in chaos so he can bully and negotiate with everyone from what he sees as a position of power. It also props up US gas production and the petrodollar.
It is a dance with the devil on popular support and affordability though since everyone is paying more for gas now. Somehow the stock market is up.
6
BlueFalcon893 days ago
+4
So the world is going to accept an Iranian toll booth?
4
CG-Shin3 days ago
+9
I think a few weeks ago they said they would also accept reparations instead of the toll.
So the US could just pay reparations.
If the war is ending like that then yeah the world will just accept it, as nobody is going to war for it
9
CremeAcrobatic17483 days ago
+11
I really can't see a world where Trump agrees to give Iran money, or the world accepting to pay a toll. Iran obviously wants it open, but they are also enjoying holding the world economy hostage. Trump will have to cave for this to end, not sure his ego could handle that.
Which is ironic, because he tacos all the time on acting tough. All of this ignores how Israel actually wants the war to continue, Bibi has been preparing for this war his entire career.
Sadly, I don't see a lot of off ramps here. My prediction...Iran builds a nuke, uses it...6 months later, we're all dead.
11
CG-Shin3 days ago
+6
The risk of the aggressors dropping a nuke is much higher right now. You are talking about building a nuke that could fly without previous tests and any uranium enriched enough.
But what’s the alternative to paying the toll?
The toll is minimal compared to everything else. There is no way the US would pay reparations and there is also no way the world would agree to a forever war where the strait stays closed even longer.
You’ld need a total victory on ground to ensure safe transit through the strait. If bombing keeps continuing the situation will be even trickier, as you might have several groups operating in their own interest with modern technology. They could just hide and bit the strait whenever they want
6
Duffmanlager3 days ago
+2
Somebody better go back and get a shit load of dimes
2
NoForm54433 days ago
+6
Never is a really long time. OTOH, we should be prepared for it being closed for a year or more.
6
Cinematry2 days ago
+2
“Never”? Really?
2
crimsonhues3 days ago
+74
This is a three party negotiation where they don’t trust each other to hold their end of the bargain. I am so lost between who said what and who agreed to do what and who backed out. Certainly doesn’t help when you have a leader who changes strategy on a whim
74
Bored20013 days ago
+57
80% of this has been trump not negotiating in good faith. Both this term and his last term.
Iran is also at fault of course, but at no point has the US under his leadership in either term been a trustworthy in negotiations.
57
tarekd192 days ago
+21
It seems like half the "negotiating" has been Trump declaring things without really getting buy in or agreement from Israel or Iran and then acting apoplectic and saying Iran is acting in bad faith when they proceed as normal having not actually agreed to trumps announced terms. This has happened like 3 times and Iran seems to have less patience every time. Let's not forget too that the last ayatollah and a significant amount of the leadership were assassinated under the auspices of a negotiation so it is very rich for the trump administration to suggest Iran is the bad faith negotiator here.
21
crimsonhues3 days ago
+5
Agree. And Trump just says what he wants when Iran (or Israel) has never agreed to it.
5
ElChupatigre3 days ago
+4
I guess technically no strategy is a strategy
4
Illustrious-Job-63903 days ago
+328
This is going to turn into another Greenland isn't it?
Trump causes a mess. Pretends like everything has been settled and moved to the next thing
328
Nikiaf3 days ago
+89
That’s literally what he did in Venezuela too. What actually changed there, other than Maduro no longer being head honcho? The new person isn’t any better.
89
Derikari3 days ago
+52
The change is that Trump gets a cut now and can push the myth that he saved them, " them" being what ever is convenient. Don't forget that Trump mused about taking the Iranian oil infrastructure, or proposed that America and Iran split the Hormuz transit fee
52
apathy4203 days ago
+13
"they" and "them" are the real pronouns the GOP is obsessed with.
13
-Prophet_01-3 days ago
+11
He put most of South America on high alert and created a major incentive to close ranks against the US.
That aside, not much.
11
no-more-nazis3 days ago
+5
I thought it changed their oil policy
5
Mechasteel2 days ago
+8
Venezuela is getting more money now from their oil, by selling it sanction-free via the US. So the US gets a say in who gets the oil, and Venezuela gets more money.
8
wsdpii3 days ago
+11
His supporters buy it hook line and sinker. My coworkers all say we "saved Venezuela" when we really just left the exact same government in power and Trump got paid by them.
11
DaveShadow3 days ago
+183
I mean, thats right wing politics in a nutshell.
Smash the vase on the ground, shoddily glue it back together and then try to demand everyone tell you you're amazing for fixing it.
183
son_et_lumiere3 days ago
+85
Not even shoddily glue it back together. Sweep it under the rug, pretend it never happened, ignore the big lump on the floor, and when someone asks you about the lump, step on it and say "what are you talking about? the floor is flat. no there never used to be a vase there."
85
JohnMayerismydad3 days ago
+22
Then finally, complain the lamp hasn’t been fixed 10x better and for free the day a democrat takes office
22
sproge3 days ago
+15
"Who cares about fixing the lamp, the Democrats are hiding a broken vase under the rug, fix that first!"
15
Huge_JackedMann3 days ago
+6
"Republicans defiant that lamp ever existed meanwhile some critics remain skeptical on floor claims" MSM
6
BT91543 days ago
+3
More like you discovered the mess, must have been you that did it!
3
MonetaryCollapse3 days ago
+7
Greenland is a cake walk compared to this.
Eroding trust and creating a crisis of confidence among allies is practically nothing compared to the hornets nest he kicked up.
Death, destruction, economic damage, it’s all just winning to him.
Meanwhile, the knock on effects are live energy shortages and looming food crisis.
Not to mention that global trade by the sea will never be the same again, and that has underpinned the modern economy.
7
BZ11A3 days ago
+33
Trump is finally realizing that the IRGC (General Vahidi) is really calling the shots and that the Iranian politicians acting as "negotiators" that JD Vance and company are dealing with have zero influence, The IRGC is fanatical; they got their noses bloodied and now they want revenge. And they don't care about what the economic impacts are for their citizens or for the world. Trump wants a deal, but he won't get one because the IRGC is out of their goddamn minds. Both Israel and the IRGC want hostilities to continue. Israel WANTS hardliners in Iran in charge so that they can neuter their strategic capabilities (specifically ballistic missiles that can range Tel Aviv). The US is in a tough spot, and all alone.
33
apathy4203 days ago
+4
That is what I said before... Iran can absolutely outlast us with a collapsed economy. It will affect the US even more
4
utrangerbob3 days ago
+14
I think this is the main issue. They've been talking with people who don't have access to guns or missiles. It's like talking to your neighbor about a feral dog chewing your leg.
Man it would be if you could call off your dog. I smacked it with a stick and now it's biting my leg. Oh man yea well give me a few billion and I'll tell it to stop. Hey dog stop biting his leg. Oh man it didn't listen what now?
14
BZ11A3 days ago
+15
Exactly. The Iranian populace is brave, but when they tried to start a largely unarmed revolution in January the regime/IRGC massacred tens of thousands of them without even blinking (I've seen estimates ranging from 6,000 to 40,000 protesters that were murdered by the Iranian government). They do. not. give. a. f***. The opposition is literally incapable of overthrowing the IRGC. Look for the IRGC to start consolidating power and start disappearing or assassinating the moderates. For the IRGC the moderates are standing in the way of the holy war they desire.
15
filthy_sandwich3 days ago
+3
Incredibly sad state of things over there
3
Constant_Section14913 days ago
+13
I mean you kill their highest religious leader of the country including his family, all while an ongoing negotiation, and then demand for a deal after a week? I don't think that's how it works.
13
j0y03 days ago
+7
> This is going to turn into another Greenland isn't it?
No, because USA is still blockading all Iranian ports and likely will continue to do so until Iran stops attacking their neighbors and civilian ships in international waters. The ceasefire just means USA isn't bombing Iran right now.
7
Worth-Lead-59442 days ago
+4
Iran's strategy on day 1 was to interdict the strait and wait for the US to give in to the economic pressure. The current American strategy is to let them do that and see what happens.
4
j0y02 days ago
+5
The current US strategy is to say "ok, strait's closed for you, too, then." Which seems like a pretty obvious course of action for a country with the uncontested best blue water navy in the world, but somehow they were just letting Iran's shipping through for months.
5
dcasarinc3 days ago
+8
I mean, it worked beautifully for him. Before Iran, the heat was extremely high on Epstein and him. Now, it seems everybody has forgotten what prompted him to initiate a war.
8
Idiot_Savant_133 days ago
+3
Except Iran has a tether on his sack - every time he tries to walk away, the Strait of Hormuz gets closed up.
Bone Spurs murdered their leader during negotiations.
That ain't gonna be forgotten, or let go of.
Bone Spurs may just be done in by his inability to pull out.
3
niceufo7773 days ago
+3
No, unlike Greenland, Iran finances terrorists, and is already quite weakened.
3
Potential_Archer24272 days ago
+1
Difference is he can't pretend like this is settled
1
Quartnsession2 days ago
+1
This is a lot more serious than that.
1
z8_GND_52963 days ago
+22
"You can't play pirates, we're already playing pirates!"
22
PalpableMass3 days ago
+5
Maybe Iran and the US can find common cause in working together to hold the world economy hostage in the Hormuz Strait, and split the proceeds. Peace through piracy!
5
FigSideG3 days ago
+7
You’d think a guy that pretended to write a book called Art Of The Deal would be better at this.
7
Dry_Ass_P-word3 days ago
+30
Wow that’s impressive considering we obliterated the Iranian navy like 900 times according to President Jesus H Trump.
30
riggerbop2 days ago
+16
That's Dr. President Jesus to you
16
Douglas19942 days ago
+7
Apparently he was meant to say the 'picture was doctored' but his dementia made him claim to be a picture of him as a doctor instead.
7
yourfaceisfakenews3 days ago
+6
This is some game if checkers going on..
6
Glesenblaec3 days ago
+6
Trump said he'd continue the blockade of Iran despite a ceasefire, so naturally Iran continues their blockade too.
6
Spudtron982 days ago
+6
This is a nightmare scenario for any actually competent negotiator: both sides involved actively lie their asses off out of sheer habit and are also extremely vindictive by nature.
6
uberduck2 days ago
+3
this has gotta be the weirdest war ever fought
3
crunchymush2 days ago
+3
It would be great if someone could put up a website or something so we can check who is blockading the straight at why given time. Or maybe they can agree on a rotating roster or something like that.
3
chester-123 days ago
+5
Brilliant strategy
5
Dizzy_Industry12872 days ago
+4
Update:
– Later reports mention Iran seizing vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, highlighting how fragile the ceasefire remains
– The US is still waiting for a clear, unified response from Iran regarding the extension
4
mechy843 days ago
+11
Wow. Iran wants to make a deal so hard right now, like, harder than they did a month ago.
11
girlsax83 days ago
+18
Perhaps if Trump didn’t start the war in the first place 🤬
18
Loose_Inspector8982 days ago
+2
Gotta distract everyone from the Epstein files bruv
2
NoConflict32312 days ago
+2
"We should take Bikini bottom (the Straight of Hormuz) and push it somewhere else!" - Patrick Star, probably
2
Secret_Account072 days ago
+2
TACO Don at it again
Don’t worry though, he’ll continue to f*** stuff up. Just never knows when to quit
2
gordonjames622 days ago
+5
Good to hear that USA is doing as well in Iran as they are in foreign affairs and trade negotiations.
5
throwawayhyperbeam3 days ago
How? They have no navy I thought?
0
ResortClear7303 days ago
+31
Pretty sure the conventional naval ships are all gone but they still have the smaller speedboats.
31
Dry_Werewolf_15973 days ago
+11
That navy was small and aging the corvettes were built in the 60s and the frigates in the 70s. Seems their navy was much like their air force.
11
cruelsensei3 days ago
+35
They have a lot of small fast-attack boats, typically armed with heavy machine guns and short range anti ship missiles. These are pretty much useless against warships, but they can easily take out tankers and cargo ships.
But the main threat is their thousands of land based missiles that can reach targets up to 1000 km away.
35
qTp_Meteor3 days ago
+15
They are acting exactly like somali pirates, they no longer have any normal warships, they go on small speedboats with guns and kidnapp the tanker. The IRGC Navy as a real military force doesn't exist anymore, but they are still able to be pirates/terrorists
15
Snigglybear2 days ago
+2
The Iranian navy looked like some damn Somali pirates seizing a boat lmao.
2
xavandetjer2 days ago
+2
And still there's nothing the US can do about it.
2
Fearless_Ad_54703 days ago
+1
Which round is this? 😀
1
Seannj2222 days ago
+1
It feels like watching ping pong
1
Alarmed_North_69792 days ago
+1
Ahhh, i see the weekend is coming. All this will be gone come Monday again.
171 Comments