Are you confused as I am about whether we’re still at war with Iran?
For me to even ask the question displays a lot about this particular moment. Are we at war still, after over 2 months of war? Who knows? I wish somebody would please tell us, to get us out of this confusion.
We have good reasons for our confusion. The Trump White House, Trump himself, and his cabinet secretaries all are saying different things. We aren’t at war, we are at war, it’s an “excursion,” a “blip”, it’s an operation, not war.
Yet, for good times, try this.
Supposedly, the White House and Iran are looking at an agreement spelled out in a one-page memorandum of understanding to end the war and set a framework for more detailed nuclear negotiations. On this news, the DOW shot up.
Then also Trump put Project Freedom on pause last night, you know the “project” that is not part of the war, as Rublio claims, but a separate deal to escort ships through the dire straits by the US Navy. Trump also then said “a Complete and Final Agreement” to end the war with Iran could be nailed down amid what he called “great progress” in negotiations brokered by Pakistan.
There definitely is no deal yet. (Wait! What time is it? By time you read this, there might be one.) Yet people close to the situation claim this is the closest the parties had been to an agreement since the war began.
Then in the middle of all this, today Wednesday, Trump threatened Iran with “higher level” military strikes if it doesn’t accept a peace deal, but he says it’s “too soon” for new direct talks with Iranian officials in Pakistan after reporting “great progress” in negotiations to end the war.
Was it just yesterday that Trump called the war “a blip”?
Anyhow, in its current form, the Memorandum of Understanding would declare an end to the war in the region and the start of a 30-day period of negotiations on a detailed agreement to open the strait, limit Iran’s nuclear program and lift U.S. sanctions.
Also during the 30-day period, Iran’s restrictions on shipping through the strait and the U.S. naval blockade would be gradually lifted.
But hey, not to worry, for if the negotiations collapse, U.S. forces would be able to restore the blockade or resume military action.
In addition, Iran would commit in the MOU to never seek a nuclear weapon or conduct weaponization-related activities. And it would also commit to an enhanced inspections regime, including snap inspections by UN inspectors.
For the U.S., the White House would commit to a gradual lifting of the sanctions imposed on Iran and the gradual release of billions of dollars in Iranian funds that are frozen around the world.
Don’t forget, there is no deal yet.
Meanwhile, of course, as you know, gas across the country have surged to the highest since July 2022, according to AAA data. The price of regular gas has jumped 52%, or $1.56 per gallon, since the start of the Iran war in late February, as disruptions to oil flows in the Middle East drive up costs for motorists. The cost is approaching the highest-ever gas price, when it reached $5.02 a gallon in June 2022 during a pandemic-era spike in inflation. The national average is now $4.54 a gallon. In California, it’s much more.
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