• Iran says a deal with Oman to reopen the Strait of Hormuz is “on the verge of being finalized” after both sides agreed on the coordinates of routes through the critical waterway.
• US President Donald Trump again claims Washington is in talks with Tehran and says he prefers diplomacy to war because “I don’t want to kill people”.

Vance defends Iran talks, says Tehran’s leaders ‘fractured’ and ‘difficult’

US Vice President JD Vance has defended the Trump administration’s handling of negotiations with Iran, calling the Iranians “extraordinarily difficult people” and the talks a complex, uneven process.

“First of all, if they want to make me own the effort to try to bring this war to a successful conclusion, I’m happy to let them make me own it,” Vance told Fox News.

“I am absolutely trying to do that, but… that sometimes requires one step forward, two steps back, then three steps forward, and one step back. I can certainly understand the American people are maybe looking at this, and they say, well, it seems like we’re making progress, and then it seems like we’re not.”

He argued that Iran is difficult to negotiate with partly because its government is divided.

“The reality is that number one, the Iranians are extraordinarily difficult people,” Vance said. “Number two, they have a fractured system, so there are people within their system who want the war to be over. There are also people within their system, who are crazy radicals, who want the war to continue. Our job is to navigate through that and get the best outcome for the American people, but for the president of the United States as well,” he added.

There are no talks but communication via messages between US and Iran. There are talks between Iran and Oman over Hormuz, which nears its final stage. But, Tehran accuses the US of interference by coordinating with Oman.

The US thinks that interfering and meddling is equal to "talks"

Vance says talks with Iran ‘messy’ but will land in ‘good’ place for US

US vice president’s comments on Fox News:

He expressed confidence about reaching a deal with Iran and said the agreement would be good for the American public.

“It’s going to be messy, and it’s going to take some time to get there,” he said. “Oil, I think, was at $79 today. Those oil prices are going to come down and stay down. Iran will never have a nuclear weapon, and the United States will be in a stronger position, but we’re kind of in the middle of the game, and I think people are trying to prejudge exactly how this is going to go.

“I can tell you with confidence, it’s going to go in a place that is good for the United States of America, but we’re going to use all the tools that we have – military, economic, diplomatic – to make sure we bring this thing to the right resolution.”

It is messy but by American arbitrary interpretations

Deal on Strait of Hormuz does not mean ‘end to the crisis’

Iran says it has reached an understanding with Oman on the geographical coordinates of a new shipping route in the Strait of Hormuz, bringing weeks of negotiations closer to a formal agreement.

These discussions are now at the final drafting stage, pending a joint final statement to be finalized.

But Iranian officials argue that these discussions are exclusively with Oman, without any foreign or outside interference. They also say that any agreement does not mean that the situation will be brought back to pre-war conditions, arguing that the military actions and the naval blockade imposed by the United States on Iran are the cause of the disruption of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

On the other hand, Washington rejects reports suggesting that Iran would have control over traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, and they say that any temporary route should not require any permits, approvals, or fees.

Separately, Iran’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, during the second anniversary of his inauguration, said that Iran’s enemies have targeted military commanders, scientists, and the country’s strategic capabilities to undermine the country’s resilience and technological progress.

So while a final agreement on a temporary route in the Strait of Hormuz is now in the making, the dispute remains unresolved. That means that any agreement on a shipping route in the Strait of Hormuz does not necessarily mean the end to the crisis.

Timeline of key events as Iran and Oman near deal on Hormuz

• US strikes on Iran resumed on July 8 after Tehran attacked ships it said had used an unauthorized route through the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran insists the memorandum it signed with the US in June gives it sole authority over the strait during the 60-day period of negotiations for a final deal.
• As Iran launched retaliatory attacks across the Gulf and Jordan, Oman presented Tehran with a Gulf-backed proposal in late July for managing the strait, including shared oversight and voluntary payments by shipping companies for navigation and security services, according to media reports.
• Iran’s deputy foreign minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, said on July 28 that Oman had also proposed splitting the shipping route between Iranian and Omani territorial waters. Iran rejected this, countering with a proposal in which Tehran would manage the route on its side of the strait and Muscat would oversee only part of the opposite lane – effectively giving Iran oversight of both inbound and outbound traffic.
• On August 1, Trump said he had cancelled planned attacks on Iran because talks were under way and the parameters of a deal had been agreed to.
• Iranian media later reported that the Iran-Oman talks were aimed at establishing a “middle corridor” through the strait, distinct from both the northern route Iran had established and the southern corridor favored by the US.
• On Wednesday, Gharibabadi said an understanding with Oman was “on the verge of being finalized,” and the Foreign Ministry said the two sides had agreed on geographical coordinates for the new route.

Oil prices edge lower amid hopes of deal on Hormuz Strait

Oil prices are declining as investors consider whether progress in discussions between Iran and Oman might lead to a US-Iran peace agreement to halt the five-month conflict and unblock the Strait of Hormuz, according to the Reuters news agency.

Brent crude futures dropped 37 cents, or 0.5 percent, to $79.08 a barrel as of 00:24 GMT.

US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures went down 53 cents, or 0.7 percent, to $74.69 a barrel.

The losses came after Brent closed with slight gains on Wednesday, while WTI finished marginally lower.

Tanker transiting Hormuz reports sound of 2 explosions

The UK Maritime Trade Operations agency (UKMTO) says it has received a report of an incident off the coast of Kumzar in Oman.

“The master of a tanker has reported hearing two explosions whilst transiting in the Strait of Hormuz,” it said.

“The report confirms that crew and vessel are safe,” it added.

Data firm says 12 vessels crossed Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday

Only 12 vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz in the 24 hours ending at 21:00 GMT on Wednesday, according to maritime intelligence firm Windward.

The crossings included six inbound and six outbound vessels, far below the approximately 140 vessels that used the waterway daily before the US-Israel war on Iran, it said.

Windward said three vessels traveled through the southern corridor, which Iran opposes, overnight with their tracking systems switched off for about 12 hours each. It also said an outbound bulk carrier sailed directly from Iran to a military anchorage in Oman and was flagged by its maritime intelligence system as a possible “blockade-breaker”.

Another vessel travelling inbound towards Iraq reversed course shortly before reaching the strait, the firm added.

Traffic in Hormuz falls

Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has dropped significantly on Wednesday compared with the previous day, the Reuters news agency has reported, citing shipping data.

Only two vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, down from eight vessels the previous day, the data from maritime tracker Kpler showed.

Roughly 130 to 140 vessels transited the waterway before the US-Israel war on Iran began in February.

 

Strait of Hormuz tolls would harm livelihoods worldwide, ship owners warn

Eight of the world’s largest shipping associations have urged the UN to oppose tolls in the Strait of Hormuz amid reports that Iran and Oman are nearing a deal to manage the critical waterway.

In a letter to UN chief Antonio Guterres and International Maritime Organization secretary-general, Arsenio Dominguez, the groups said allowing authorities to charge vessels to transit the strait would violate international norms and harm the global economy.

“Introducing compulsory charges for transit, or service fees that are a toll in all but name, through the Strait of Hormuz would represent a significant departure from established international practice,” the groups representing ship owners and operators said in the letter, which was sent to the UN on Monday but made public on Wednesday.

Shipping groups urge UN and IMO to oppose tolls in Hormuz

Eight major shipping associations have urged the UN to oppose compulsory tolls in the Strait of Hormuz.

The groups voiced their opposition in a letter to UN chief Antonio Guterres and the head of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Arsenio Dominguez.

Compulsory or service charges “represent a significant departure from established international practice”, they wrote, warning they could create a precedent in other waterways. They also called for action over the safety of seafarers.

The missive was sent on Monday and published on Wednesday by one of the associations – the International Chamber of Shipping.

The other signatories were: Asian Shipowners’ Association, BIMCO (Baltic and International Maritime Council), Cruise Lines International Association, European Shipowners, INTERCARGO (Global Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners), INTERTANKO (International Association of Independent Tanker Owners), and the World Shipping Council.

Possibility for Hormuz deal to be announced by the end of today

The Iranian side, including the foreign minister, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and other diplomatic sources, are saying that there is good progress and the two sides are on the verge of announcing a deal.

That’s even as we noticed in a statement from a high-ranking diplomatic source yesterday that there are one or two issues to be resolved. But they are not – according to him – that complicated.

The key issue, perhaps, is the trajectory that ships and vessels can take to transit the Strait of Hormuz. That’s something the Iranian Foreign Ministry said yesterday that they agreed on, and they are now agreeing on the geographical coordinates for the new lanes for ships and vessels to pass through.

We have to keep in mind that there were a number of controversial issues, including the charges that Iran was talking about initially: The service and maritime charges as they relate to de-mining operations.

The Iranian side is saying that should be carried out by Iran.

We are waiting for a statement from Iran, which has said there’s a possibility for a deal to be announced by the end of today.

New shipping lanes ‘a breakthrough’ but Oman-Iran agreement leaves some issues unresolved

The potential deal reached between Iran and Oman is more detailed than the MoU signed by the US and Iran on June 17, Rob Geist Pinfold, an international security lecturer at King’s College London, tells Al Jazeera.

“There will be two traffic lanes, one along the Omani coast and the UAE, and another along the Iranian coast,” said Geist Pinfold, adding that although the new shipping lines are “a breakthrough”, they still leave some issues unresolved.

One of the main issues remaining is fees. “Iran wants 5 percent, Oman has suggested 3 percent and the US wants no fees at all,” he said. “We may see some creative ambiguity here where the terminology is changed, but it looks enough like fees for Iran to agree to it.”

Geist Pinfold said, “It is unlikely that this will be a permanent solution; it doesn’t talk about the middle of the strait, and even if both of those routes along the Omani coast and the Iranian coast open.” It is “unlikely” that the strait will see the same volume of traffic it did before the war because the space is too small and “the middle of the strait may be mined”, he added.

A chain of events’ over any deal on Hormuz

Tehran has been saying is that there are no direct negotiations between Tehran and Washington.

But we have to keep in mind that we are dealing with a chain of events.

Obviously, the situation in the Strait of Hormuz is a key issue in that regard. The Iran-Oman talks are like a practical test to see if diplomacy can resolve this issue.

The situation in the strait is not necessarily just between the Iranian and Omani sides, even though Tehran is saying that the talks are only between Muscat and Tehran and that the US is a key factor.

There is another interrelated issue, which is the naval blockade by the Americans. The Iranians have been saying that the [reopening of the strait] is conditioned on the removal of the blockade.

There are other controversial issues, specifically when it comes to the Memorandum of Understanding.

Whether the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, the resolution of that, could pave the way for the revival of the talks and for the two sides to get back to Islamabad is something we have to keep waiting on.

Iran and Oman near deal that would shape Strait of Hormuz traffic

Tehran has said it is nearing a deal with Oman to help end the US war on Iran. It could implement a new navigation model that gives Tehran more control over ships entering the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz, a senior Iranian source and two regional officials told Reuters on Wednesday. That would be one of the biggest concessions to Iran so far.

Tolls for passage through the strait have not yet been agreed on. Eight of the world’s largest shipping associations have asked the United Nations to oppose any implementation of fees. Their joint letter to the UN and International Maritime Organization said such a change would be a “significant departure from established international practice” and could establish a precedent for other waterways.

For Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the US must abide by the memorandum of understanding (MoU) it signed with Iran in mid-June, although that would not be enough on its own, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said in comments carried by Iran’s IRNA news agency.

The minister said Iran had received messages from the US saying it was “fully prepared to return to its commitments” under the June MoU.

Gharibabadi also told IRNA the new potential deal was “designed in such a way that commercial ships will pass through Iranian territorial waters, both on the inbound and outbound legs”.

He said talks with Oman had “reached fundamental understandings” and added that “this progress is on the verge of being finalized.”

Hormuz agreement may ban ships from ‘hostile’ countries

Iran’s parliament is currently reviewing an initial text of agreement governing the Strait of Hormuz that bans “vessels from hostile countries” from travelling through the waterway, state broadcaster IRIB reports.

Countries and individuals that “have caused damage to Iran” will not receive permission to pass until compensation is paid, the broadcaster added.

As we’ve been reporting, Iran says a deal with Oman to reopen the strait is close to being finalized.

US ramps up maritime blockade on Iran, redirects vessels away from Iranian ports

US Central Command says it is continuing to enforce the US blockade against Iran.

In a post on X, it said US marines redirect 49 commercial vessels, disabled two and boarded two other vessels.

US imposed the blockade to redirect ships away from Iranian ports and deprive Tehran from getting revenue by charging vessels for safe passage in an effort to pressure Iran to negotiate.

White House denies report of Trump-Hegseth clash

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has denied a Washington Post report claiming the US president confronted Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth over shortages in the country’s missile stockpiles during a meeting at Camp David.

The newspaper reported that Trump demanded answers over why he had apparently been misled about shortages of long-range guided missiles and air-defence interceptors. It said the depleted stockpiles had influenced his decision not to launch additional large-scale attacks on Iran.

Leavitt, who said she attended the meeting with Trump and Hegseth, called the report “fake news”.

“This literally never happened, and we told the Washington Post that repeatedly,” she said, adding that Trump “loves the Secretary and thinks he’s doing a tremendous job”.

"I was at Camp David with President Trump and Secretary Hegseth. This literally never happened, and we told the Washington Post that repeatedly. This B.S. story was shopped to many outlets by someone clearly out to disparage the Secretary, for whatever reason. Unfortunately for them, the President loves the Secretary and thinks he’s doing a tremendous job. FAKE NEWS!"

If one says something like "I was there," this doesn't mean that the person is telling the truth about what has happened. In politics, it has always been denialism when things exposes the persons involved.

Republicans in the US always have had a short sighted way of thinking.

Trump claims US has ‘massive amounts’ of weapons, says ‘leakers’ being ‘hunted down’

The US president has rejected media reports that the Pentagon’s missile stockpiles are running low, insisting that the military maintains massive reserves and is rapidly expanding production.

“The US has massive amounts of ‘munitions,’ especially of certain types,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.

“Additionally, large amounts are being manufactured and shipped to the U.S. as needed. Defense companies are building the largest number of plants and factories in our country’s history,” he wrote.

The US president also lashed out at the sources behind the media reports, warning that those responsible would face legal consequences.

“The ‘leakers’ of these treasonous statements are being hunted down,” he wrote. “Long term jail sentences will be sought!”

US citizens are bracing for more chaos in the Middle East, poll finds

Five months into the US war with Iran, Americans who expect the Middle East to slide towards chaos outnumber those who see the war bringing more stability by three to one, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll.

The six-day poll concluded on Monday, as US President Donald Trump again backed away from threatened “massive attacks” on Iran, underscoring uncertainty surrounding a conflict he initially predicted would bring a swift victory.

Fifty percent of poll respondents said they thought US military action in Iran would destabilise the Middle East over the next year, about three times the 17 percent who said the war would lead to more stability in the region.

Another 16 percent said stability would stay about the same, and 17 percent said they were unsure or did not answer the question.

Americans were also pessimistic about petrol prices, which have risen as Iran has choked off traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global oil supplies. Some 58 percent said they expected petrol prices to worsen, while just 15 percent expected them to improve.

Polls show majority of Americans oppose Trump’s war in Iran

The latest poll indicates what has become a trend, that is deep disapproval of the war.

The polls show very clearly that some 60% of American people are opposed to President Trump’s decision to go to war. What must be pointed out is that 60% of those defining themselves as Republicans back President Trump’s to do so, however, the vast majority of Americans clearly indicating their disapproval.

But also a very significant point that came out in the poll was the question that was asked that was which party deals with war and terror better. When the question was first asked in 2024, the majority said Republican by some 10%, but now on Monday when the poll was conducted, 38% said Democrat as opposed to 37% who said Republican, so that is a massive switch around with how voters regard the parties regard the country’s governance particularly with regards to security issues, war issues or terror issues.

These are very stark statistics for President Trump as he and his party look forward to November’s midterm elections.

Pakistan PM travelling to Saudi Arabia as mediation efforts continue

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif will visit Saudi Arabia today to discuss consolidating Pakistan-Saudi Arabia bilateral relations and exchange views on regional and international developments.

Sharif will meet with Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, the crown prince and prime minister of Saudi Arabia.

The official two-day visit will include a delegation comprising Pakistan’s deputy prime minister/foreign minister, the chief of army staff and the chief of defence forces, as well as other ministers.

With regard to the US-Iran war, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said during his weekly news briefing: “We are still engaging with other countries regarding the crisis in the Middle East and the situation in Hormuz.

“Our diplomatic efforts continue to work towards a comprehensive and sustainable solution regarding the Strait of Hormuz.”

Iranian army says it’s ‘fully prepared’ against threats

Spokesman Brigadier General Amir Akraminia has said the army is continuously pursuing the path of increasing operational readiness by modernizing damaged systems, introducing new equipment, and relying on domestic capabilities.

He added that, with the arrival of new equipment to units, the army’s combat equipment and tools are being rearranged to suit daily needs.

‘The United States realized the limits of its power’ through its war on Iran

“Any conflict like this that doesn’t result in a blowout victory by one side or the other is going to be resolved at the negotiation table,” Paul Musgrave, associate professor at Georgetown University in Qatar, said.

Musgrave added that through how the war on Iran unfolded: “The United States realized fully the limits of its power. The United States and Israel sought to achieve a transformation in Iranian public politics. They wanted to have a regime change; they had a candidate lined up to be the next leader of Iran. That failed. Since then, the United States and Israel have been unable to change the status quo.”

He added that the US and Israel “gambled that through sharp use of force they could have a regime change in Iran and they could set the terms of the regional agenda for a generation”, but they were unable to achieve their aims and instead found themselves in a weak position. This is why the US is currently “not making more ambitious asks”.

Musgrave also said that the US killing Iran’s leadership has “reshuffled Iran’s power base” in favor of hardliners who “have much more influence” than they previously did, and “their thesis of the case that ‘you can’t trust the United States because it only understands force’ objectively has a lot more to say about what the Trump administration is doing”.

Trump claims Iran war is ‘going very well’

Trump has said he’s “extremely happy” with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and defended the war on Iran.

“Everything has been extraordinary,” the US president wrote on his Truth Social platform, referencing the abduction and arrest of former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro before turning to Iran.

“Iran, where the country has been decimated for the purpose of NOT ALLOWING IT TO EVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON, is going very well!” the president added.

Egyptian President condemns Iranian attacks during talks with Bahraini King

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa have held talks in New Alamein City in Egypt.

Presidential Spokesman Mohamed el Shennawy said Egyptian President El Sisi supported Bahrain’s efforts to protect its security and stability during wide-ranging talks including on regional developments.

El Shennawy said President El Sisi condemned Iranian attacks targeting Bahraini territory during talks, and stressed that Bahrain’s security is an integral part of Egyptian national security.

The Bahraini King affirmed his country’s appreciation for Egypt’s support and said the two countries needed more dialogue to face the challenges confronting Arab nations to avoid escalation in the Middle East region.

Talks between the leaders also touched upon developments in the Palestine.

 

Iran’s Ghalibaf says ‘we don’t need more theatre’

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf says Washington has pursued a “failed strategy” and called for a return to earlier ceasefire commitments.

“Massive attack coming… wait, never mind, they want to negotiate,” Ghalibaf wrote on X in apparent reference to Trump’s decision to halt attacks shortly after promising to hit Iran. “That’s theatre diplomacy on loop.”

“Acknowledge the facts and fulfill your commitments,” he added.

Netanyahu may be preparing to fight Iran alone

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – facing a crucial election later this year – has hinted that he may be considering taking unilateral action to prolong a costly war with Iran, even as Washington and Tehran appear to be close to an interim deal to open the Strait of Hormuz.

“We heard today the commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Ahmad Vahidi, declare that Iran intends to continue developing a nuclear weapon,” Netanyahu claimed in an assertion, even though no official statement from Vahidi on the matter has been released by the Iranian government or official media.

Still, Netanyahu saw the opportunity to once again frame Iran’s nuclear threat as existential.

“As Israel’s prime minister, I am determined to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon,” Netanyahu told attendees at a state ceremony in West Jerusalem.

Describing the United States as “Israel’s greatest ally”, Netanyahu nevertheless added that he was prepared to do “whatever is necessary” to guarantee Israel’s security.

Iranian president says US has exerted ‘maximum’ economic pressure

Iran has lost about 230 million cubic meters of gas on a daily basis due to US-Israeli attacks, President Masoud Pezeshkian says.

In a lengthy interview circulated by the IRNA government news service, Pezeshkian said attacks on power infrastructure caused “a daily shortage of approximately 230 million cubic meters of gas.”

“Our enemies expected the country to collapse due to the pressures they have exerted,” Pezeshkian said, noting such pressures have “reached their maximum”.

Trump says he thinks Iran war to end ‘pretty soon’

The US president, while taking questions from reporters on energy prices both globally and in the US, says that he thinks the war on Iran will end “pretty soon”.

“I don’t think they can go much longer”, he said.

Currently, Iran is in talks with Oman, nearing a deal that would formalize a route through the Strait of Hormuz acceptable to both parties, increasing the passage of commercial vessels through the vital waterway.

Iran has made it clear numerous times that it is not currently in direct talks with the US about a deal to permanently end the war.

Trump again denies reports of low munitions supplies

The US president has claimed “we have an unlimited supply” of weapons.

“We’re in very good shape,” Trump told reporters in Washington. “We have literally massive amounts of ammunition.”

The White House and Pentagon have repeatedly disputed recent reports that supplies of both offensive and defensive weapons have dropped dangerously low.

Trump earlier pledged to hunt down “leakers” following the reports.

Turkey's Erdogan to visit Saudi Arabia tomorrow

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to pay a one-day visit to Saudi Arabia as the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb Strait escalates.

Erdogan will meet Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, on Friday, according to a post on X by Turkey's Communications Directorate.

He is also due to meet Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif.

Mossad chief fires 2 senior officials over failure to topple Iran’s leadership: Israeli media

Israel’s Mossad chief, Roman Gofman, has sacked two of the spy agency’s top officials over a failed plan to topple Iran’s government, Israeli media reports.

According to reports from Israel’s Channel 12 and Haaretz, one of the officials had served since December as the head of Mossad’s intelligence directorate.

The other was the head of the agency’s Iran division.

The reports say the two devised the written plan to remove Iran’s leadership by mobilizing the country’s minority groups to rebel and whip up mass protests to oust the government.

Trump says US military isn’t short of critical munitions

President Trump did say the war would be over very soon, but what was important to note is that he was very careful not to talk about the ongoing negotiations between Iran and Oman to try to find a way to allow commercial shipping through the Strait of Oman and, more importantly, the Strait of Hormuz, without creating any sort of additional tension in that waterway.

Trump also talked about the fact that there’s been ample reporting in the last 24 hours about the US military not having enough munitions, either to conduct the war in Iran or, perhaps more importantly, be able to engage in other military operations, whether going into yet another war or defending one of its many allies as required by treaties.

There’s been a real run on everything, from Patriot missiles to Tomahawk missiles to sidewinders to basic ammunition, and the president is saying that despite all of these news reports, the production is ramping up, and the cost of those munitions needs to be paid for by the US Congress, and that the US military is not wanting for critical munitions for military operations.

Trump caught in ‘inescapable escalation trap’ with Iran

The US war on Iran will not come to a permanent resolution anytime soon, as Trump is caught in an inescapable escalation trap, says Robert Pape, a professor of political science at the University of Chicago.

“We are in the most wicked escalation trap in history,” Pape said.

“Either President Trump surrenders and allows Iran to continue gaining power to become a rising power in the Persian Gulf, probably acquire nuclear weapons in the future, or he escalates. There is no third option; that’s the escalation trap,” he said.