Trump calls the war with Iran “virtually over.” However, this is not true, and the current balance sheet is disastrous: 4,500 raids took place in 10 days, and the price of oil temporarily rose to $119. per barrel.
Iran also attacked a water desalination plant in the Persian Gulf (in Bahrain) for the first time. Okay. two thirds of the region's inhabitants depend on this type of plants for their drinking water supply. If Tehran succeeds in destroying them, the region will face a humanitarian disaster of biblical proportions.
Meanwhile, Trump must explain to voters the death of seven American soldiers. His camp seems divided. One man in particular benefits from all this chaos.
As tensions mount behind the scenes in the US – Vice President JD Vance is probably not in favor of a new war – Vladimir Putin is the one benefiting from the current developments.
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High oil prices boost Russia's war coffers, which affects the effectiveness of Western sanctions. Trump allowed India to buy Russian oil again for at least 30 days. Faced with the shortage of oil on world markets, the US president is even considering completely lifting sanctions against Moscow.
Relations with Russia were raised during a press conference by US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. Trump spoke to Putin by phone about Iran. “The president said it was a good conversation,” Hegseth said, without going into details.
One thing is certain: the next rounds of negotiations to end the war in Ukraine have been postponed, and many of the weapons that the Americans were supposed to deliver to Kiev are now ending up in the Middle East.
Donald Trump, meanwhile, says he simply can't get enough of winning. “We have already won, but we have not yet won enough,” announced the US president, referring to the war in Iran. Shortly thereafter, a CBS reporter asked him when the war would end. “It's practically finished,” Trump replied.
The US president is alone in this assessment. Even Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, whose army, together with the Americans, carried out over 4,500 airstrikes on Iran in 10 days, does not agree with Trump. “We are not done yet,” Netanyahu said on Tuesday, March 10.
Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin NetanyahuAmir Levy / Stringer / Getty Images
The US-Israeli war record so far is disastrous. Only one goal can be considered almost completely achieved.
Iran is not bending
Iranian naval forces have been virtually eliminated. Moreover, according to Reuters, Iran's stockpile of missiles has been halved. The regime's nuclear facilities in Tehran were seriously damaged during the twelve-day war last summer. From the point of view of the Americans and Israelis, this is a partial success.
However, the new Iranian leader Mojtaba Khamenei is not willing to give in. Iran continues to fire missiles and drones at Arab neighbors and US military positions in the region. This situation will probably not change in the near future.
It is important to remember that Hamas, a much weaker military force than Iran's military, continued to fire rockets regularly even two years after the Israeli bombardment of Gaza began.
The rise in oil prices is disastrous for Trump (and most of the world). Last week it temporarily increased to $119. per barrel – the highest level since 2022
In the United States, gas prices have increased by an average of 50 cents per gallon. This hits Americans who rely primarily on trucking for transportation. At the same time, the terrorist threat from Iran is growing around the world.
Blockade of the Strait of Hormuz – between Iran and the Arabian Gulf, through which approximately 20 percent is transported. global oil trade – will cause a number of problems in the coming weeks. Drug containers will get stuck in transit, as will important components for the semiconductor industry. And right now, when farmers around the world should be sowing seeds, the Arab wholesale fertilizer trade is in ruins.
According to Trump, ships in the Persian Gulf should “show some guts” and sail through the strait despite the extreme risk. This, however, carries great danger.
Meanwhile, burning oil fields in Iran cover the capital, Tehran, in black clouds. This is an ecological disaster that is causing millions of Iranians to suffer. This could have been avoided. To make matters worse, no one knows how long the current war will actually last.
I’m Ashley Davis as an editor, I’m committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accuracy in every piece we publish. My work is driven by curiosity, a passion for truth, and a belief that journalism plays a crucial role in shaping public discourse. I strive to tell stories that not only inform but also inspire action and conversation.
