Iran re-closed the Strait of Hormuz Friday instead of heading to Switzerland for nuclear negotiations, citing Israel’s refusal to pull forces out of southern Lebanon and US forces’ ongoing presence in the region.
In a statement read over maritime radio channels, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said the US was in violation of the memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran, which President Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed Wednesday.
“Since Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon, the complete lifting of the naval blockade, and the withdrawal of American terrorist forces from the Persian Gulf and the region are among the main conditions of the agreement between Iran and the United States, the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until these conditions are met,” it said. “All ships are requested, for the sake of their security and safety, not to approach the Strait of Hormuz. Any vessel that defies this directive will be targeted.”
This whole thing is stupid as fuck.
I’ve got no special love for Israel, but they are still an independent country that is not obligated to do as we ask.
Trump made a deal that promises they’ll do something- a promise he had no standing to make. That’s like if I promised everyone reading this thread that if you upvote me, Elon Musk will give you a million dollars. I have no authority to make that promise because Elon never agreed to it, and he’s not bound by my statements.
And since apparently Israel never agreed to this, and in fact said openly they don’t agree, this whole deal was bullshit from the start.
Hope we didn’t send the money yet…
You’re stupid as fuck.
And the US - as an independent country - can also withhold military aid, intelligence, financial support, political cover at the UN, and overall Israeli dick sucking to get the ethno-fascist state to fall in line.
You don’t provide any of that to Elon…though I can’t tell for certain about the dick sucking, but that’s totally your choice dude.
Lol
Yeah we can absolutely do those things, and some of them we probably should just on general principle. I have always been of the belief that if you give a guy a gun and he shoots somebody, and you give him another gun and he shoots somebody else, you may not be responsible for the first shooting but you’re definitely responsible for the second. And all of the ones that come after that.
So if you’re going to argue that we should take a harder stance with Israel, I’m definitely not going to disagree. Whether that will actually happen is a completely different story.
However even if we weren’t going to strong-arm Israel, it’s basic dealmaking 101 that while bluffing is acceptable in some situations, when it comes time to put the cards on the table and play them, you can’t play a bluff.
I could see this as a comedy skit
Trump: if you reopen the Strait Israel will get out of Lebanon. Israel: no we won’t.
Iran: okay we will open the strait and Israel will leave Lebanon. Israel: no we won’t leave Lebanon.
Trump: okay we have a deal!
Iran: Why isn’t Israel leaving Lebanon?
Israel: is my phone on mute or something?