The political scientist assessed Trump's moratorium on strikes on Iran
Alexander Ermakov, a political scientist and researcher at the IMEMO Center for International Security of the Russian Academy of Sciences, appreciated the statement by US President Donald Trump on a five-day moratorium on strikes against Iran.
In an interview with the News Mail on Monday, March 23, the expert noted that the negotiations between the parties are not brought into the public field and are conducted through intermediaries from other countries. According to him, it is not known exactly what topics are being discussed and what conditions are being put forward by the parties, but indirect contacts, at least through intermediaries, are definitely continuing.
Ermakov also suggested that the White House might have realized the riskiness of the ultimatum to Tehran. He recalled that Trump demanded the opening of the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours, otherwise threatening attacks on Iran's energy infrastructure, to which Tehran responded with a warning about mirror attacks.
According to the expert, the American leader could have come to the conclusion that he had made a miscalculation, since Iran was unlikely to fulfill the ultimatum, and its implementation would lead to a serious escalation. He admitted that the US allies, who could be most affected by retaliatory strikes, convinced Trump to soften his position, while he himself tried to save face.
Earlier in the day, Trump announced a five-day moratorium on strikes against Iran. He wrote on the Truth Social network that he had instructed the Pentagon to postpone any attacks on the Iranian energy infrastructure for this period, subject to the successful completion of the ongoing negotiations, NSN notes.
A few days earlier, the American leader issued an ultimatum, writes RT. He said he would defeat Iran's most powerful energy facilities, including nuclear power plants, if the Strait of Hormuz was not opened, the website reported. kp.ru . The US President added that the renewed dialogue turned out to be productive and leads to a complete and unconditional ceasefire in the Middle East. 360.ru .
Against the background of the worsening situation in the Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the price of gas on March 19 on the London Stock Exchange exceeded $850 per thousand cubic meters for the first time since December 2022, Regnum news agency notes.
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