Trump's Non-Ceasefire Ceasefire with Iran Is Part of a Larger Pattern

"Tehran refused to reopen the Strait of Hormuz until Israel reached its own ceasefire with Lebanon. And if the critical waterway were opened, Iran said, it would remain under Iranian control. After negotiations between the two countries broke down, the U.S. imposed a naval blockade of Iranian ports in an effort to pressure the theocracy to open the strait. In response, the regime vowed never to "surrender under threats"; Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, declared both sides were "inches away" from an agreement but also said that Tehran had encountered "maximalism" and "shifting goalposts" in its dealings with the U.S."

"Since then, the strait has endured a deadlock during which rival blockades have deepened a worldwide economic crisis, disrupted global supply chains, and spiked oil prices to as high as a hundred and twenty-six dollars a barrel. Each side has blamed the other for ceasefire violations. And yet the ceasefire has mostly held."

"At the beginning of last week, tensions escalated further. The Trump Administration launched Project Freedom, a U.S. military operation to guide commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz, through which flows a fifth of the world's oil and liquified natural gas. Iran retaliated by firing missiles and drones at the United Arab Emirates, an ally of the United States and Israel, including at its energy infrastructure. The regime also targeted U.S. warships; the U.S. military said it destroyed six Iranian fast boats in response to attacks and intercepted Iranian cruise missiles and drones."

A ceasefire announced in early April faced immediate obstacles between the U.S. and Iran. Tehran refused to reopen the Strait of Hormuz until Israel reached its own ceasefire with Lebanon, and said the strait would remain under Iranian control if opened. After negotiations failed, the U.S. imposed a naval blockade of Iranian ports to pressure Iran to open the strait. Iran vowed never to surrender under threats and accused the U.S. of maximalism and shifting goalposts. The deadlock deepened a worldwide economic crisis, disrupted supply chains, and raised oil prices. Each side blamed the other for violations, while the ceasefire mostly held. Tensions later escalated with U.S. Project Freedom to escort commercial ships and Iranian attacks on regional and U.S. targets, including energy infrastructure and warships.

Read at The New Yorker