Deceiving Iran, Extorting the Arabs, and Shocks in the US and Israel
The ceasefire process desired by US President Donald Trump is facing a deadlock. Trump proposed 15 conditions for ending the war through Pakistan as mediator, which essentially demand Iran’s surrender. Trump’s demands do not consider Iran’s dignity or the realities on the ground.
It is no surprise that these arrogant and manipulative demands were met by Iran with five conditions for stopping the war, which, although legally reasonable, are nearly impossible for Trump to accept. Accepting Iran’s demands would amount to capitulation. Thus, Trump’s and Iran’s demands leave no room for diplomacy, resulting in a deadlock.
In truth, Trump’s demands are not diplomacy but a gimmick to portray Iran as under US control, while the US is actually facing major difficulties at domestic, regional, and global levels. The US-Israel aggression against Iran, intended to bring about regime change in Iran, has produced the opposite result.
Although Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with several military leaders and state officials, were successfully killed, the mullah regime remains in existence. In fact, it has grown stronger. Moreover, Iran has launched a successful asymmetric war. US military bases in countries belonging to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) – Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait – plus Iraq and Jordan have become targets of destruction by Iran.
Dozens of US soldiers have been killed and hundreds more injured. Recently, Iran has also targeted civilian infrastructure in those Arab countries related to the US as retaliation for US-Israel attacks on Iranian civilian infrastructure. According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), by 31 March, the region’s GDP has lost $194 billion, causing four million Arab citizens to fall into poverty.
Iran, along with its proxies in Lebanon and Yemen, has also targeted strategic institutions and civilian infrastructure in various cities in Israel using a tit-for-tat strategy – an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth – which has severely impacted Israel militarily and economically, and created widespread social unrest.
Israel’s layered air defence system has proven not very helpful. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the route for international tankers carrying 20 per cent of the world’s energy needs, has triggered a global energy and economic crisis, draining US consumer purchasing power. This situation is what has forced Trump to offer a ceasefire.
Pakistan was entrusted as mediator. Besides being a US and Saudi Arabia ally, Pakistan is also Iran’s neighbour with the second-largest Shia community after Iran. Even the Sunni community sympathises with Iran. Moreover, Islamabad opposes regime change. Over two days (29-30 March), the Foreign Ministers of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt met with Pakistan’s Foreign Minister in Islamabad to seek a way out that bridges the US and Iranian demands.
This process has become difficult because Iran refuses to negotiate with US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner. The two negotiated with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Geneva. The second round of negotiations has seen substantial progress.
Suddenly, without heeding the GCC’s request not to escalate with Iran – and without informing NATO – the US-Israel launched aggression against Iran. Why did Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu choose to disrupt the diplomatic process when Iran had already made significant concessions?
Netanyahu, who has desired regime change in Iran for 40 years, played a major role in this aggression. One day after large demonstrations broke out in Iran (28 December 2025), Netanyahu met Trump at the White House. On that occasion, Netanyahu persuaded Trump to immediately launch war against Iran.
Citing information from Israel’s intelligence agency (Mossad), Netanyahu said that Israel’s agents were ready to take over the government. What was needed from the US-Israel was to create conditions for that, in the form of a short attack targeting Iran’s top leaders. According to Netanyahu, this was a golden opportunity given the mullah regime’s fragile position due to economic pressures and widespread social unrest.