Mad Scramble to Block New Escalation of Iran War
April 6—President Donald Trump said that he was sticking to his demand that Iran agree to a peace plan by tomorrow night, or he would greenlight new attacks on Iranian infrastructure that would send the country back toward the Stone Age.
Sources close to the White House say that Trump will settle for agreement on only one key aspect of a peace plan—free transit through the Strait of Hormuz—in the context of a ceasefire between Iran, Israel, and the United States. Iran has publicly stated that it has no intention of relinquishing control of the Strait, which previously handled more than 20 million barrels per day of the region’s energy exports.
(However, new research on the matter has challenged those estimates, noting that at least half that volume now moves through pipelines bypassing the Strait, which continue operating normally. Iran has also stated that the Strait is closed only to American- and Israeli-flagged ships, and that the real disruption stems from London-based maritime insurers refusing to issue coverage for Gulf shipping.)
Even as he posted expletive-laced attacks on Iran, Trump expressed optimism that a deal could be reached before his deadline.
Diplomatic Frenzy to Finalize a Peace Framework
Sources close to the administration describe a “mad diplomatic scramble” to meet the President’s expectations. “For example, the nuclear weapons issue has been dealt with, both through negotiations and through military operations,” said one source. “The details need some work, but the deal is there: Iran will never produce a nuclear weapon.”
“Also, Iran has agreed to set limits on missile and drone production,” the source continued. “The numbers still need fine-tuning, but the principle has been agreed to.” Sources also confirmed agreement to convene a regional conference, including Russia, China, and the United States, to discuss long-term economic development and reconstruction in war-ravaged Iran and Israel.
U.S. May Reduce Military Footprint in the Region
Iran has demanded that the U.S. withdraw completely and abandon its military bases. While that is not going to happen, sources say Washington is willing to reduce its military presence, with details still subject to negotiation.
“As for the Strait,” said the source, “Iran is likely to agree to its reopening as part of a ceasefire, and that may be enough for Trump for now, with future arrangements up for discussion. One idea involves creating a regional authority to manage traffic and infrastructure improvements, though this remains a concept.”
Trump’s Anger at Israel’s Role in the War
Sources close to the White House say Trump now feels he was misled by Israeli intelligence into believing a swift, coordinated attack would cripple Iran’s war capabilities and trigger regime change. When U.S. intelligence disputed these claims and urged diplomacy, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu declared that Israel would attack Iran regardless of any American deal. Trump, multiple sources report, “caved in to Bibi,” ignoring the advice of figures like Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and joined the attack.
Now, Trump reportedly wants out and is seeking an exit strategy. “He sees that Bibi’s goal is the total, utter destruction of Iran as a nation. Trump wants no part of that—yet the Christian crusaders like Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and fools like Sen. Lindsey Graham (R‑SC) support Bibi. And Trump, in his social media posts, sometimes sounds just like Netanyahu.”
“Whether Trump can take the exit ramp depends on whether he’s willing to break with Bibi and the Zionist lobby in the U.S. and GOP,” the source said. “Bibi wants U.S. ground troops in Iran—and they’re already being deployed to the region. If Trump doesn’t assert who’s boss and take the off-ramp now, he’s heading toward a real disaster that could end his presidency. People are telling him that. Let’s see what happens this week.”