Wednesday, Aug. 12
Sometimes it feels like the Middle East is in the quiet before the storm, although U.S. and Iranian leadership are rarely quiet.
While Pakistan's defense minister said on Tuesday that the U.S. and Iran are approaching "some kind of deal" and that "things are taking shape again toward a peace arrangement or deal," the other players keep speaking in terms that don't seem headed in that direction.
Iran's Mohsen Rezaei said that the United States is "the cause of instability in the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman." He added threats to his accusations, saying that "the Strait of Hormuz will not open unless the US changes its behavior and accepts Iran's conditions. Washington must end the war and release frozen Iranian funds. It must end the war across the entire region, including Lebanon and Gaza, in addition to other conditions conveyed to it through mediators."
And IRGC commander Naqdi said that "the organization must prepare to carry out smart operations in enemy territory." According to him, "whenever the situation requires it, we must be able to expand operations into enemy territory and carry out missions far from our borders. These are the characteristics of the offensive doctrine that must be implemented. The Revolutionary Guards must be able to operate against the enemy anywhere and at any time the situation demands."
President Trump, for his part, responded a few hours later, saying that he "doesn't trust Iran."
"I'm the last one who would trust Iran; they've lied to me consistently," said Trump. "We have complete control over the Strait of Hormuz. We own it. They have no control. Maybe at some point they'll do something, and they'll be bombed. But right now, we're in a very good position."
So the rhetoric continues every day, and each day brings Iran closer to having nuclear weapons — which is what this whole war was supposed to be about.
But we are unable to know what else is going on behind the scenes and closed doors. So our answer, as always, must be to place our hopes and faith in a Higher Power.
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