As Donald Trump hunts for a way out of his unpopular war, he faces a conundrum: take a massive risk and escalate – or stand down once more in what he would see as an embarrassing surrender.
The US President is frantically looking for a route out of renewed conflict with Iran after his fragile memorandum of understanding (MOU), signed only weeks ago, officially collapsed following Tehran’s attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
Since then the US has renewed strikes on targets across Iran and reimposed a blockade of Iranian ports. Meanwhile Tehran has escalated its campaign against tankers in the vital maritime corridor, sending oil prices skyward again, and launched deadly attacks on US allies across the region.
Shorts
At least three US troops have been killed in Jordan and Iraq over the past few days, putting more pressure on Trump – who was elected on a promise of no more “forever wars” – to bring the conflict to a resolute end.
