The ceasefire, although extended, is hanging by a thread as Donald Trump awaits Tehran’s response to his peace deal proposal. Meanwhile, Iran questions the true peace intentions of the United States.
“I should receive a letter from Iran tonight, so we’ll see how it goes,” he said on Saturday, May 9. Behind his victorious speeches, the American president is reportedly tired of the war and wants to end it, according to several of his advisors. However, recent U.S. attacks on two Iranian ships early in the week have left Tehran skeptical about the future of the talks.
“The recent escalation of tensions by American forces and their multiple violations of the ceasefire raise suspicions about the motivation and seriousness of the American party’s diplomacy path,” said Abbas Araghtchi, Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Peace still seems far away, but Europeans are already thinking about post-war scenarios. The French aircraft carrier Charles-de-Gaulle is now joined by a British destroyer, the HMS Dragon, to secure ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz.
“It’s symbolically important. Very clearly, the UK is showing that it will be present with this coalition that President Macron has established. That being said, this destroyer, which looks more like a multi-mission frigate, will not make a difference,” said Jean-Jacques Roche, director of the Higher Institute of Armament and Defense.
A new failure in these negotiations would lead Iran and the United States to resume bombardments, which is feared by other Gulf countries. Qatar and Saudi Arabia both called for dialogue and an end to escalations on Saturday afternoon.
