Trump's war, Iran's advantage

M Santhananaban

Three months into the US war against Iran, and a genuine peace remains elusive.

What began as an act of aggression by a reckless American president has since triggered an oil and gas crisis that has reverberated across the globe.

The US may have the firepower, but Iran has shown the sharper diplomatic game despite enduring devastating sanctions and relentless strikes.

The UN has been sidelined. The major world powers have other priorities. And yet the fighting goes on.

May will be long remembered for the half-truths about being close to a negotiated end to this war.

A tentative agreement was reportedly reached on 28 May, only for Trump to table fresh demands – on the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s nuclear programme and the unfreezing of Iranian assets – that did not go down well in Tehran. The so-called memorandum of understanding remains, at best, a work in progress.

It is clear that either Trump is not in full control, or he is at an immense disadvantage in seeking to resolve the crisis. Possibly both.

This is a costly, complicated and grinding conflict that has depleted US reserves of firepower, goodwill and international prestige.

The three-month paralysis in the Strait of Hormuz alone has sent the price of crude oil and other commodities sharply higher. Each week that passes without a settlement further erodes Washington’s credibility.

Iran, though bruised and battered, looks the stronger party at the negotiating table. That is a remarkable position for a country under siege – and a damning verdict on American statecraft.

The gap between Washington’s public declarations and the reality on the ground has never been wider.

For now, we can only hope that sanity prevails.

Dato’ M Santhananaban is a former Malaysian ambassador with 45 years of public sector experience.