Academics Say Trump's Claim That Iran Has Surrendered Does Not Reflect the Ongoing Geopolitical Situation
Indonesia Suspends Discussion on the Peace Board.
Donald Trump’s post on Truth Social in which he called Iran the ‘Loser of the Middle East’ and described Iran as having ‘surrendered’ to neighbouring countries does not reflect the geopolitics currently at play.
Associate Professor Emaridial Ulza of Uhamka, an academic, said the statement was nothing more than political rhetoric and not an accurate depiction of the Middle East as battles rage.
‘TDonald Trump has a habit of framing messages as victories to pressure opponents psychologically,’ Ulza said in an official statement released on Sunday, 8 March.
Trump’s statement claimed Iran ‘has apologised and surrendered’ to neighbouring countries after attacks by the US and Israel, and even said that Iran is not a disruptor in the Middle East but a ‘loser of the Middle East’. He also warned that Iran would face ‘a very hard blow’, opening the possibility of targeting areas or groups not previously in the crosshairs.
According to Ulza, the statement is full of contradictions indicating that the on-ground situation in the war agenda is likely very complex and America is under pressure.
He also added that in many war or international conflict situations unilateral declarations of victory are commonly used as part of a negotiation strategy to build public support.
‘This pattern has been seen repeatedly: from trade negotiations with China, the North Korea crisis, to earlier conflicts in the same region. The claim that Iran ’has surrendered’ is almost certainly framing for domestic consumption to build a triumphant narrative that he needs for his people and also the world, not an accurate description of the on-ground conditions,’ he argued.
‘Victory declarations on social media are not peace. In many episodes of history, such rhetoric can prolong cycles of escalation, especially as allied countries such as the UK or Spain have not joined, following Germany’s decision not to be directly involved in the war, which strengthens the case that Trump needs negotiation,’ Ulza added.
America is under pressure; likewise Iran needs a mediator and Indonesia could play a significant role by brokering meetings through the OIC or with other Middle Eastern states as one of the countries with the world’s largest Muslim population.
Indonesia, positioned on the Peace Board formed by Trump and also part of BRICS, could act as a conduit even if not directly; at least the goodwill of President Prabowo would slightly reduce tensions with all the consequences involved.