https://seymourhersh.substack.com/p/will-trump-cut-a-deal-with-iran
America’s love affair with Israel has hit an astonishing bump because President Donald Trump, in a political panic over the economic fallout from the Iranian blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, is now “talking to Iran,” as an Israeli insider put it, about ending the current impasse in return for a payment from the United States of at least $25 billion, and possibly much more, to the government in Tehran. In return, Iran would end its blockade and open the strait to all traffic, ending a crisis for Trump, the US, and much of the world.
One motive for Trump’s extraordinary step—I was not told how or by whom Trump’s offer was communicated—may be personal. The president, I was told, “no longer trusts Israel. He now believes he was misled” by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the potential for success of the recent joint US-Israeli bombing attack, a goal of which was to trigger an overthrow of the religious leadership in Iran. The president is said not to share Israel’s existential concern about the need to destroy or neutralize the large depot of partially enriched uranium that is allegedly stored in at least three deep tunnels in Iran. Iran as a member of the world’s nuclear club may be an existential threat for the Israeli leadership, but not for the president of the United States.
“He wants out,” the Israeli insider told me, and the Israeli leadership “is very upset because Trump”—in his fear of the political cost to him of a continuing blockade of the strait “has shown a willingness to ignore Israeli interests and desires.” People in the Israeli leadership “say he’s lost it. He doesn’t think of the consequences. You cannot do negotiations with Iran because every step we make he immediately broadcasts it on his social media posts. He is so obtuse.”
One clear sign of Trump’s indecision came this morning when the Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg published similar stories quoting Trump telling “his aides” to prepare for a lengthy US Navy blockade of the strait in an effort to compel cash-strapped Iran to agree to giving up the nation’s stockpile of partially enriched uranium. The Journal depicted the offer as demonstrating that Trump, “who always seeks a quick and salable victory, is devoid of a silver bullet.”
The Israeli insider told me that the reports accurately reflected the conflicting opinions inside the administration about how to resolve the crisis, given the widespread belief that the Iranian leadership, facing steep losses of income, will eventually have to give in to economic pressure.
Agreed. Sounds like leftist Israeli propaganda to me - much like the leftist propaganda here in the US from so called "insiders" that claim the same line of bull - Trump is "taco," Trump is backed into a corner, Trump doesn't know what he is doing, Trump is a puppet of Israel, and Iran is winning. Israeli leftists are basically just like the same loons here in the States - always trying to stir the pot and cause division. Unfortunately we also have our own factions of Islamic apologist influencers that have raised their voices in agreement with the haters causing their own brand of division against Trump within the right.
Trump is not wishy washy about his goals nor does he cave to political pressure. His entire political career has demonstrated that fact for everyone to see. That is why they hate him. Trump knew from the beginning this move against Iran was risky for him and the Rep party. It demonstrates how high the risks were for doing nothing and continuing to kick the nuclear can down the road like every other administration has done for the sake of temporary political safety. Trump did not engage in military operations without carefully war gaming the situation and all possible scenarios. Like Venezuela, this operation had been planned for months. Nothing is off the cuff. Trump is quick on his feet, but he doesn't normally fly by the seat of his pants. He is more calculated than that but doesn't let others know those calculations. He maintains strategic ambiguity which in turn leads to all manner of speculations and rumors that others with TDS will attempt to spin for their own agendas.
A nuclear Iran is a threat to the entire world. The attack on Diego Garcia should not leave any room for doubt as to what the goals are of the IRGC and the Shia mullahs in Iran. Anyone with a clear understanding of the Shia Iranian apocalyptic mindset knows this. There is nothing more dangerous than ideological religious zealots, no matter how twisted and irrational their beliefs are. Trump has access to intel that prompted him to act; not in the best interests of Israel, but for every American, and by extension, the rest of humanity including the Iranian people themselves.
There is no way Trump would be mislead by Israel and commit our troops based upon what Israel says. Trump is NOT Israel's puppet. He knows what he is doing and what he wants to accomplish. He has been clear about his objectives regardless of what Israel wants. His top objective was always about Iran's nuclear ambitions - not regime change. If the regime does fall, that would simply be icing on the cake especially for the Iranian people.
Trump is a man of vision that sees beyond the moment in order to envision what the future potential could be. He is not limited by short term disruptions when compared to the long term gains. The doubt about what Trump may do or not do is evident in Hersh's substack. Israel does not know what Trump will do next - just the way he likes it.
Well said fren.
Thank you fren. It makes me hot when people speak of Trump like he is some kind of Israeli puppet. Some people give more power to Israel than they deserve.