Trump’s regional realignment sparks debate over US support for Israel - opinion
Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
Opinion
Sources not specified
Context piece
- The article questions whether President Trump's diplomatic approach to Iran, including a ceasefire agreement, aligns with his past confrontational record.
- Concerns are raised that concessions made to Iran, such as accepting its ballistic missile program, legitimize the ayatollahs and strengthen the IRGC.
- Despite potential risks, the author notes that US forces remain in the region, maintaining the credibility of a military threat against Iran.
The article examines the complexities of President Trump's foreign policy regarding Iran, particularly his recent diplomatic engagement and a ceasefire agreement, contrasting it with his previous "sterling record in confronting Iran." While acknowledging Trump's past actions against the "radical Islamist regime" and his support for Israel, the author expresses difficulty in giving him the benefit of the doubt due to "trash-talking about Israel" by Trump and Vice President JD Vance.
Given US President Donald Trump’s sterling record in confronting Iran – no other US president has actually gone to war against the radical Islamist regime and repeatedly backed Israel’s wars of defense against Iran – one wants to give Trump the benefit of the doubt now, too, when he seeks to defang Iran diplomatically.
Drawing on arguments from Dr. Michael Doran of the Hudson Institute, the piece suggests Trump's actions might be a strategic maneuver to "buy time, not surrendering to Iran." The ceasefire agreement is seen as a means to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and lower oil prices, requiring US concessions. With midterm elections approaching, Trump reportedly calculated that "American retreat, however inelegant and unfortunate, was preferable for the time being." Doran insists this does not signify a permanent surrender, and Trump's record suggests he would "strike Iran again" if necessary, especially as US forces remain in the region.
But the trash-talking about Israel by Trump and especially by his Vice President, JD Vance, makes this hard to do.
However, the article voices significant risks associated with this approach. Trump's tendency to pursue "huge and historic 'peace' deals" could leave allies to manage "messy, very warlike, aftermaths," as seen in Ukraine and Gaza. The concessions granted to Iran, including accepting its ballistic missile array aimed at Israel and Arab allies, and allowing substantial oil sales revenue and Western investment, are seen as legitimizing the ayatollahs and strengthening the IRGC. Linking the Strait of Hormuz to Israeli operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon is labeled a "cardinal sin," raising concerns about future Iranian demands.
almost convincingly, that Trump is buying time, not surrendering to Iran.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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