Donald Trump’s latest about-turn on the war in Iran is welcome news, if it lasts. In classic Trumpian style, his military posture has flipped from warning Iranians that a “whole civilisation will die” to presenting himself as the man of peace.
It’s possible that this latest instance, the pausing of military action over the Strait of Hormuz, stems from a realisation among some of his advisers that this is a war the US cannot win. More likely, though, it is due to Trump’s visit to China next week.
As November’s midterms near, the US president will want to use his time in Beijing to dominate global headlines as a bringer of peace, not war. Yet the ceasefire is already on shaky ground, with Iran and the US both blaming each other for a recent clash in the shipping channel.
