A member of the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee of the Islamic Consultative Assembly stated that the root cause of the ceasefire extension by Trump lies in the misinformation provided to him.
Tehran – IranView24
Ahmad Bakhshayesh, in an exclusive interview with ISNA, explained the reasons for Donald Trump’s ceasefire extension: “The primary root of the ceasefire extension by Trump is the incorrect information provided to him by the U.S. President’s advisors. Trump imagined that by attacking Iran and martyring the Leader of Iran, he would leave the nation without a leader, causing the people to revolt against the system and leading to a new government; he thought the U.S. could defeat Iran within three days, but the reality turned out differently”.
Miscalculations and the Strait of Hormuz
The representative for Ardestan added: “The United States entered a war with Iran using this simplistic approach and imprecise calculations. It had not even predicted the massive challenges it would face if the Strait of Hormuz were closed, which created significant costs for the country and added to its problems. With the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, control over global energy fell to Iran, demonstrating that American rulers had not included the closure of the Strait in their calculations”.
Bakhshayesh continued: “After 40 days of conflict with Iran, Trump realized he had taken the wrong action and that Iranians stand united and decisive against enemy aggression. He thought he could destroy the unity of the Iranian people by attacking, but this did not happen; Iranians not only did not turn away from their system and country, but they took to the streets and squares in support, forming campaigns of tens of millions”.
From War to Naval Blockade
According to Bakhshayesh, Trump concluded that he could not force Iran to surrender or change the political system through war; therefore, he declared and extended a ceasefire and moved toward a naval blockade and economic pressure.
The National Security Committee member clarified: “Trump is now attempting to force Iran into submission through a naval blockade and increased economic pressure to deprive the country of the ability to sell oil. This was the model Trump had in mind, but after 40 days of war, he realized he was unable to overcome Iran and had entered a war of attrition, which he began by extending the ceasefire”.
Diplomatic Strategy and Internal U.S. Divisions
He emphasized: “The prudence of our country’s diplomatic team in facing the American negotiating team, especially after the ceasefire announcement, has focused on substituting diplomacy for war. By issuing transit permits for ships in the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf, Iran showed the U.S. that its naval blockade has little effect. Iran’s actions in the Strait of Hormuz have been appropriate; Iran seeks to reduce the U.S. presence in the region, while the U.S. seeks to stabilize its presence in the Persian Gulf by deploying forces”.
The Ardestan representative concluded: “It seems the Islamic Republic of Iran should also utilize the capacity of American Democrats against Trump and the ruling team in the diplomatic arena, because currently, due to Trump’s incorrect and unsuccessful military action against Iran, serious disagreements have arisen between Democrats and Republicans. Democrats are protesting the attack on Iran as well as the declaration and extension of the ceasefire, and this issue can provide a suitable opportunity for Iranian negotiators”.
Source: ISNA
