* See UPDATES below...
Either President Trump is very naive about 'fabricated reports' from the Middle East regarding Iran's so-called willingness to make a deal with the US, or he is simply playing games and stalling the inevitable scenario...further military action to finish off the Iranian regime's reign of terror against its citizens and other countries in the Middle East and around the world.
I suspect he will have to make a decision one way or another very soon. People are growing weary of all the shenanigans (BS) on both sides. All talk and no action won't be tolerated by the price-gouged (global) public much longer.
Trump can either set the terms in the Free-World's favour and act on them, or Iran will do it their way.
He has a choice...either make it or surrender it.
By the way, Iran needs to 'man up' and negotiate directly (face to face) with US representatives if they're serious about striking a deal with them...not through a third party, from which unreliable reports (lies) emanate.
Failure to do so will never produce a deal...only a prolonged and destructive war.
UPDATE:
Furthermore, a 60-day tentative extension of a ceasefire is NOT a bona fide permanent peace agreement...just more delay and uncertainty on the issue of removing the enriched uranium from Iran and the permanent dismantling of their nuclear program, which remains a major global threat to international security.
Looks like President Trump has lost sight of that issue (one of his major goals) and is surrendering that matter to Iran by allegedly agreeing to watered-down piecemeal arrangements...which may include the early release of some seized Iranian funds in exchange for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
That would be a loss for the US and a win for Iran, because it was already open before the war and billions of dollars were frozen decades before this current conflict under extensive US sanctions targeting Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Plus, Iran could then use the monies to buy/build more drones and missiles to replenish their depleted stockpiles...rendering Trump's bombings, to date, all for naught...while still in possession of their enriched nuclear materials.
Both the US and Iran need to 'man up' and negotiate face to face to settle all issues at once, rather than through a third party...and cut the drip, drip BS...people are fed up with it all!
Incidentally, other Western world countries need to 'man up' and offer support to the US to ensure that it is successful in these negotiations, inasmuch as their prior involvement in the now-defunct JCPOA (Iran Nuclear Deal) provided significant mutual reinforcements and assistance to each other in enforcing a unified policy to constrain Iran's nuclear program.
So far, they've taken a hands-off approach to this situation.
Since it was in their interest then, why wouldn't it be now?
UPDATE:
From this latest report, it looks like the only thing that has been accomplished by the ceasefire, so far, has been the ability of Iran to restore and reopen 20 airports that were damaged in this war.
Plus, Iran is still in possession of its enriched nuclear materials and nuclear facilities, and the Strait of Hormuz is still closed.
So, where's the upside to the US in this ceasefire? 🤔
HINT...
A "creative visionary" would find a way to streamline, amalgamate all the moving parts of this conflict (including goals and impediments), and accelerate the process of achieving global economic, financial and military security/stability...in part, by turning the impediments into common goals for all parties.
And, a "creative opportunist" would find a way to capitalize on this process.
UPDATE:
So far, I haven't seen any evidence of either party possessing such creative thinking and negotiating abilities in order to reach and sign a final agreement that contains common goals, as backed up here and here.
Frankly, I don't believe that terrorists have the capacity or desire to seek any common goals with the Western world and the Middle East...as repeatedly demonstrated by Iran's combative rhetoric and actions for the past 46 years under the dictatorship of the Ayatollah and his henchmen.
I predict that the situation will get much worse right through the midterm elections in November, especially as low and middle-income Americans (living paycheque to paycheque) continue to suffer economically and will likely voice their concerns in the way they vote.
Billionaires, such as the President, and long-term investors/market makers may not care how long this drags out, or be worried about the midterm elections, but average Americans do/are.
And, who has the appetite to participate in Trump's 250th July 4th celebrations under these uncertain and unappealing conditions? 👀
UPDATE:
WTF has Trump been smoking!
He's getting more unbelievable by the day with his ridiculous vacillatory, contradictory, hyped-up comments.
His 'so-called' negotiating tactics are not clever...just plain stupid, clueless, overblown, bizarre and irritating.
Plus, his tone towards Iran seems to have softened since his visit with President Xi in China in mid-May...case in point. Coincidence?
It's becoming clearer that a decent deal for the US regarding Iran will not be forthcoming.
PERIOD!
UPDATE:
An alleged Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the US and Iran, as described in this article, is not the same as a FINAL deal.
The so-called negotiations of items and terms outlined in an MoU (and, by extension, the conflict) will drag on forever...case in point here and here (39 'deals' announced by DJT, so far 🫤).
Even Europe is forecasting further uncertainty ahead, as the ECB has just raised interest rates by 0.25% due to rising inflation.
Buckle up!
