I have written about the above before, when American President Donald Trump had signed the worthless Memorandum of Understanding with Iran in Versailles. Contrary to what Trump thought (but maybe sensed), it was—as political commentators worldwide observed—a document of capitulation signed at a site of great historical significance. Stupid.

Worthless it was as the hostilities soon resurfaces with tit-for-tat attacks which became for increasingly impatient Gulf monarchies, previously strong allies of the Unites States, unbearable. The ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz threatens their business model: oil, tourism, shareholder capitalism.

Even their citizens are increasingly threatened by Iranian missiles and drones mainly targeting U.S. military bases but maybe soon also desalination plants.

Trump’s air war, his one-off attempt to deploy ground troops, his own naval blockade after Iran had closed the Strait of Hormuz–all of that had failed.

Now tit-for-tat. What alternative lays on the table? When Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited, despite an arrest warrant of the International Criminal Court, the White House this week, alarm bells rang.

It seems so that the two adults in the room, Vice President J.D. Vance and principal military adviser to the President, General Dan Caine, objected against escalating the war once more.

And how could Trump escalate at all? Once more targeting civilian infrastructure in Iran, bridges power plants–does it make sense? Would Iran not attack respective targets in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, KSA?

Last night, Trump called all plans off. On Truth Social he wrote,

The U.S.A. is locked and loaded and ready to go against the Islamic Republic of Iran, at levels of Military Terror, Strength, and Power not seen since World War II. Despite this, we have just been asked by Iran, and other Middle Eastern Countries, to hold off any attack in that the perimeters of a deal has been agreed to. This would include the Immediate, Complete, and Total OPENING OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT, and an end to Iran’s nuclear threat. Based on this request, I have agreed, for the future benefit of the WORLD and, likewise, the survival of a successful and prosperous Iran, to cancel the attack, subject to being able to rapidly make a DEAL. The Country of Israel joins me in this commitment. Get to work, everybody, and get it DONE. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP

The wording of this post is that of a toxic narcissist who wants to deal with the inevitable, defeat. What does “levels of Military Terror, Strength, and Power” actually mean? Well, at least destruction of civilian infrastructure and killing of innocent people. At worst, a nuclear bomb.

What does it mean, “We have just been asked by Iran, and other Middle Eastern Countries, to hold off any attack in that the perimeters of a deal has been agreed to”? These countries, Iran and Gulf States, did not ask Donald Trump! They warned him. And there will be no deal more favorable for Donald Trump. Another humiliation.

Trump’s litany in public–”They want make a deal!”, “We’re gonna hit them hard”–is mere wishful thinking, for he lost the war: the air war, the blockade, and the exchange of blows.

Moreover, generals and his own Vice President have forbidden him from using a nuclear weapon.

2 August 2026 @ 10:31 UTC+2.

Last modified August 2, 2026.