It took another round of angry exchanges – between Iran and Israel, Israel and the US, and Donald Trump and everyone. At the end, both Iran and the US announced that they had accepted the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that would lead to a full peace agreement.
For now, anyway:
Iran and the U.S. have agreed on an interim peace deal, the two nations announced Sunday, a potentially major breakthrough after nearly four months of fighting that created global political and economic turmoil.
A deal is set to be signed Friday, President Trump and Pakistani negotiators said. Trump had earlier indicated he hoped a deal would be signed Sunday.
Trump said the Strait of Hormuz would be reopened on Friday, indicating in a social-media post the time was needed “for purposes of mine removal.” In an earlier post, Trump said that Iran’s restrictions on shipping in the Strait and the U.S. naval blockade on Iran would be simultaneously and immediately lifted.
“Following intensive talks, we are pleased to announce that the Peace Deal between the United States of America and Islamic Republic of Iran has been REACHED,” said Shehbaz Sharif, the prime minister of lead mediator Pakistan, in a social-media post. “Both sides have declared the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon.”
That last part was the issue earlier today, but we’ll come back to that. Trump posted two announcements on Truth Social declaring the Hormuz crisis had ended, and told the world to “let the oil flow”:
The Deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran is now complete. Congratulations to all! I hereby fully authorize the toll free opening of the Strait of Hormuz, and, simultaneously herewith, authorize the immediate removal of the United States Naval blockade. Ships of the World, start your engines. Let the oil flow! President DONALD J. TRUMP
This Great Deal will bring Peace and Security to the whole Region. Many presidents have tried to make Peace with Iran, and all have failed before me. The Leaders of the Region have, for the first time, found a President who can help them achieve real Peace. With the opening of the Strait upon the signing of the Deal on Friday, for purposes of mine removal, oil will flow on both ends again for the Region, and the World! President DONALD J. TRUMP
Yes, well. A few hours earlier, Hezbollah and Israel had launched attacks on each other, and Iran insisted that the IRGC would respond militarily. Once again, Trump demanded that both Iran and Israel stand down, and reports had the Israelis steaming over another order from the US to just sit and take it. Trump took a potshot at Benjamin Netanyahu over it earlier today:
He also calls Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a “very difficult guy” and claims the premier should be grateful. Israel was not involved in the negotiations over the just-announced US-Iran deal, and its terms have sparked profound concern among Israeli officials.
“He’s a very difficult guy,” Trump told the Times regarding Netanyahu, “and to be honest with you, he should be very thankful to us for doing this. Because if Iran had a nuclear weapon, Israel wouldn’t be around for two hours.”
This time, the Israelis had a few things to say as well:
The IDF is ready for such a potential Iranian ballistic missile attack in the coming hours, and the home front should be on high alert, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir said on Sunday at 5:07 p.m.
Zamir acknowledged that the attack would be a retaliation for the IDF’s airstrikes in Beirut earlier Sunday, which itself was in retaliation for Hezbollah drone launches against Israeli towns in northern Israel. …
Meanwhile, Israeli officials told The Jerusalem Post that if Iran launches an attack, Israel will respond.
“There is no scenario in which Iran fires at us and Israel does not respond. That would be unthinkable,” one Israeli official said.
It seems that the IRGC chose to let the attack on Beirut slide, despite repeatedly declaring it a red line over the last couple of weeks. That won’t last forever, though, so if Hezbollah keeps firing at Israel, this deal won’t last long.
That brings us to other curious part of the announcement. On Thursday, the White House said that the signing would take place in Europe this weekend. Yesterday, that shifted to an electronic signing over the weekend. Now, the signing has been pushed off to Friday, a very long period of time in which many things could go wrong. The delay seems very strange, given the heightened tensions, and it seems far more likely that we’ll see attacks begin than a signing ceremony five days from now.
Hope springs eternal, however unlikely hope would be in dealing with the terrorist regime in Tehran. At the moment, we have peace in our time, but that time may be very, very short. And the Israelis, who have the most experience in these matters, clearly know it.
Editor’s Note: For decades, former presidents have been all talk and no action. Now, Donald Trump is eliminating the threat from Iran once and for all.
Help us report the truth about the Trump administration’s decisive actions to keep Americans safe and bring peace to the world. Join HotAir VIP and use promo code FIGHT to get 60% off your VIP membership.
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