The U.S.-Iran peace deal is being hyped, castigated, debated and reported across America while we await the actual details of the memorandum of understanding.
There is only one way to understand this “deal.” The President Donald Trump was under intense political pressure to bring down the cost of gasoline before the midterms in November. The only significant outcome that will be guaranteed is the opening of the Strait of Hormuz.
All the analyses, pronouncements, predictions and opinions of whether the war was won or lost, whether Barack Obama’s or Mr. Trump’s “deal” was better, or whether the war was justified or not are Shakespearean: Sound and fury, signifying nothing. All that matters is the flow of oil through the strait.
The ceasefire will be renewed, multiple times, until the midterms — while Republicans crow about the drop in gas prices and inflation and generational peace in the Middle East and Democrats bemoan the surrender of our country to an emboldened and enriched Iran because of an unnecessary war.
Once again, politics over policy.
