Donald Trump is known for camouflaging his intentions and limits in negotiations. This is no different, even when it comes to war, human life and the world economy. The American president keeps everyone guessing.
In a short time, reports have come in several directions from the White House and American media about Trump's plans to end the war that he and Israel started against Iran on February 28.
Iran has proven difficult to defeat, even though the country is constantly attacked with bombs and missiles by the two countries. Iran responds with attacks with drones and missiles against Israel and Gulf countries where the United States has bases.
In addition, Iran has blocked the Strait of Hormuz to traffic, which means that a fifth of the world's oil consumption does not come out of the Gulf. So the price of energy is exploding around the world. Even when Trump's voters are going to fill up their cars in the United States.
On Tuesday, the Wall Street Journal quoted Trump's advisers as saying that he is prepared to stop the war, even if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed. He will leave it to others to get the Iranians to abandon the blockade.
According to the newspaper, Trump's top priority is to get the Strait of Hormuz reopened through negotiations with Iran to stop the war. But another solution is to pack up the military and go home. Then, according to the newspaper, others, NATO and the Gulf countries, must open Hormuz so that ships can once again sail in and out of the strategic strait.
When the White House was asked to comment on the information in the Wall Street Journal, reference was made to Secretary of State Marco Rubio's statements to al-Jaazera, writes Reuters. Here, Rubio has said that the Strait of Hormuz will be opened "one way or another".
He also commented that, according to Iranian state television, a committee in Iran's parliament has decided that Iran must introduce customs duties on ships that want to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
- No one in the world can accept that, Rubio said.
Trump has repeatedly threatened Iran with attacking Iranian power plants if the strait is not opened. Iran currently has until April 6th. Trump says that negotiations are underway with Iran, and he hopes that a solution will be found that will stop the war.
On Monday, Esmaeil Baghaei, spokesman for Iran's Foreign Ministry, said that yes, Iran has received peace proposals from the United States via mediators. Pakistan is mentioned as a mediator, among others. But Iran is not impressed and calls the proposal "unrealistic".
- Our position is clear. We are under military aggression. Therefore, all our efforts and our strength are focused on defending ourselves, the spokesman said.
Not long after his statements, Trump declared that the United States is talking to a "more sensible regime" about ending the war. Who that is is not known. But Trump also made it clear that the US is ready to turn up the big hammer if a peace agreement is not reached.
- Great progress has been made, but if for some reason an agreement does not fall into place soon - as it probably will - and if the Strait of Hormuz is not opened immediately, then we will end our wonderful stay in Iran by blowing up and completely destroying all power plants, oil wells and Kharg Island, he wrote on social media.
Kharg is a small Iranian island from which 90 percent of Iran's oil is shipped. Trump also threatened to attack Iranian desalination plants, writes Reuters
Karoline Leavitt, a spokeswoman for the White House, also says that Trump is considering asking the Arab countries to pay for the costs of the war.
- That's an idea that I know he has. I think you'll want to hear more about it, she says.
/ritzau/
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