Criticism was directed at Donald Trump for his abrupt change in approach after initially threatening Iran with ‘annihilation’ before reaching a hurried ceasefire agreement hours later.
In a chilling warning, the 79-year-old had threatened that Iranian civilization “will die tonight” unless its ruler agreed to open the Strait of Hormuz, raising concerns of a potential nuclear conflict. However, shortly after, he disclosed that Iran’s leadership had proposed a “workable” plan that led to a 14-day ceasefire, despite their insistence on controlling the critical Middle East oil passage and suggesting a fee of £1 million per ship for safe passage.
Trump, in a post on his Truth Social platform just 90 minutes before the set deadline for Iran, asserted that the US had achieved and surpassed all military objectives and hailed the dawn of a new “golden age” for the Middle East.
He expressed, “A significant day for World Peace! Iran desires it, they have had enough! Similarly, so does everyone else! The United States of America will aid in managing the traffic flow in the Strait of Hormuz. Anticipate numerous positive actions!
“Substantial profits will be generated. Iran can commence the reconstruction process. We will be stocking up on various supplies and will be present to ensure smooth operations. I am confident in its success. Just as we are witnessing in the US, this could mark the Golden Age of the Middle East!!!”
The day was filled with tension and concerns of a catastrophic escalation to war, with Democratic lawmakers condemning Trump’s threat to eradicate an entire civilization as “a moral lapse,” while Pope Leo XIV cautioned that strikes on civilian infrastructure would breach international law, labeling the president’s statements as “truly unacceptable.”
Some view his sudden reversal from earlier threats as a typical case of the so-called ‘Trump Always Chickens Out’ pattern. This trend, observed during his second term, has seen him announce significant policy shifts
