Many people will see the United States and Donald Trump as the “loser” from the Iran war, an experienced Washington correspondent has said.
Yesterday, President Trump announced a two ceasefire as US and Iranian negotiators were “very far along” on the road to a “definitive” peace agreement.
Iran has agreed to cease hostilities and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, although Tehran has said it exerts “dominion” over the vital waterway.
It means that President Trump decided against fulfilling his threat that a "whole civilisation will die tonight", which observers feared meant the use of nuclear weapons against Iran.
On Newstalk Breakfast, the Guardian’s Washington Bureau Chief David Smith said it is “notable” that Iran will retain control over the Strait of Hormuz.
“I think there is sense right now that Iran might actually come out of this war with more control over the Strait of Hormuz than it had a couple of months ago,” he said.
“That would be counterproductive for US ambitions but, ultimately, I think there is relief for millions of people in the US and Iran and around the world that we did not descend into the worst case scenario as Trump's deadline approached.”
Iranian pro-government supporters take part in a rally. Picture by: Iranian Supreme Leader'S Office via ZUMA Press.Mr Smith added that the agreement still lacks detail but there is a sense that Mr Trump will want to “move on” to focus on other things.
It is perhaps why the Iranians have won such favourable terms.
“Many will see the US as a loser here,” he said.
“Its reputation diminished and very few of its war aims actually accomplished.”
Iranian pro-government supporters take part in a rally. Picture by: Iranian Supreme Leader'S Office via ZUMA Press.Internationally, there was a sense of relief and cautious optimism that the world has stepped back from the precipice of a nuclear attack.
The price of oil has dropped, while stock markets across the world responded positively.
“I think the broader point here is a failure by the US,” Mr Smith said.
“I mean, for a start, critics would say they should never have walked away from Barack Obama's nuclear deal of a decade ago.
“When this war began, it was arguably the foremost issue denying Iran the capability of a nuclear weapon.
“Here we are more than a month later and little evidence that that has been achieved.
“I suspect the White House will claim that Iran's programme has been set back a long time. That'll be hard to demonstrate.”
Over 3,000 Iranians are thought to have died in the war, while 13 US service personnel have lost their lives.
Main image: Donald Trump. Picture by: Alamy.com.
