Well, this is a trifle unexpected. With the naval blockade of Iranian ports and Iranian shipping in place for only a matter of hours, President Trump is indicating the possibility of another round of talks between Iran and the United States within the next few days.
President Donald Trump said Tuesday that new U.S.-Iran peace talks could take place within days in Pakistan, signaling a possible restart of negotiations after recent high-level meetings ended without a breakthrough.
“You should stay there, really, because something could be happening over the next two days,” Trump told the New York Post. “We’re more inclined to go there.”
And why not? The United States holds all the cards here. Iran's air force no longer exists. Their navy, except for a few speedboats that are now bottled up in Iranian ports, is all on the bottom of the ocean, including one that will go down in history as the first unfriendly warship sunk by an American submarine torpedo since World War 2. The Revolutionary Guard is still making a lot of noise, but there's little they can do against the naval blockade that is slowly strangling the Islamic Republic.
At this juncture, the United States has nothing to lose by engaging in some more jaw, jaw, as the war, war has already been pretty much decided in America and Israel's favor. What's more, President Trump seems to have some confidence in Pakistan as a mediator.
Trump pointed to his relationship with Pakistan’s Field Marshal Gen. Asim Munir as a key reason for choosing Islamabad as a potential venue.
“He’s fantastic ... the field marshal is doing a great job,” Trump said, adding, “Why should we go to some country that has nothing to do with it?”
As of this writing, there has been no date set for any such negotiations, nor has Iran indicated any interest in further talks. Pakistan is, by all reports, engaged with both sides to arrange further talks.
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In any new talks, the sticking point for Iran is bound to be the same as it was: Nuclear weapons. Iran has been doggedly determined to keep what is left of their nuclear program (not much) and to continue, or to resume enrichment of uranium. The Trump administration has been equally determined to ensure that under no circumstances will Iran, under the mullahs, be allowed to conduct any further nuclear enrichment or development.
Sooner or later, the Iranians are going to have to accept reality: The old rules are gone. America isn't doing things the old way anymore. Talks may well result in some serious concessions from Iran at last, including the cessation of any nuclear development, and Iran is going to have to realize that this is the only way there will be any deal. Until they do that, the United States should keep the noose tight. Keep Iranian ports closed. Keep the oil ships from sailing. Deny Iran anything and everything they need to continue on as a country. Then, hopefully, there may be a new Iran rise from the old, an Iran more willing to join the modern world.
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.
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