US-Israeli War on Iran: Trump Losing Plot? Things Turning More Precarious?

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Sukla Sen

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Mar 23, 2026, 3:53:34 AM (yesterday) Mar 23

to foil-l, Discussion list about emerging world social movement

<https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-03-20/trump-says-he-doesn-t-want-ceasefire-in-iran-conflict>

Trump is obviously in a mess -- grappling with a completely unanticipated pushback from the Iranian Mullahcracy.

He thought that banditry is the best policy as long as he is by far the strongest one around.

He thought that Iran would crumble as easily (or at least nearly as easily) as Venezuela did. Or for that matter, Saddam Hussein in the past. (But, even Saddam required boots on the ground.) He completely ignored Vietnam or even far more recent Afghanistan. In fact Afghanistan humiliated both the USSR and the US.

So, he's just at a loss. At a loss not only about what to do but also what to say. At a loss for the optics.

Everyday he's claiming that the war is already won. All at the same time announcing that he won't go for a ceasefire. (In fact, the Iranian regime is also categorically rejecting any temporary ceasefire sans a credible guarantee for non-aggression in future.)

Now, he is issuing ultimatum to Iran. All at the same time, declaring Iran is dead!

If the war is already won, then the war obviously must end! What's the big deal???

On top of all these, bluffing for him is a strategy.

He claims, and perhaps also sees, himself to be a great "deal-maker". Bluffing is for him a very crucial element to obtain a good "deal" -- by keeping his friends and foes utterly confused.

But, to be effective, he has to actually execute at least a few of his "bluffs".

So, you never know.

Here is his latest(?).

He is threatening to wipe out Iran's power infrastructure -- if...: <https://x.com/i/status/2035516932498030879> (and <https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-israel-trump-lebanon-march-21-2026-260bac76e5554ff31aaf5a3a30c92a2e>).

(In this context, also relevant:

"Iranian strikes on bases used by US caused $800m in damage, analysis shows": <https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cddq7j48p35o>.)

As an aside, while a global economic downturn or recession is very much on the cards (ref.: <https://www.facebook.com/share/p/179teL3jsC/>), a nuclear armageddon is not. At least right now. The UN Security Council, just the other day, passed an egregious resolution against Iran -- without any whatever mention of the US and Israel -- 13 - 0! Russia and China meekly abstaining, and not vetoing: <https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/un-security-council-condemns-iran-attacks-gulf-fails-mention-us-and-israel>!

P.S.: <https://inshorts-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/inshorts.com/en/amp_news/trump-claims-iran-is-dead--reveals--greatest-enemy-of-america-after-iran--1774184987078>.

[ The above note is a sequel to:

I. Trump's (and Netanyahu's) War on Iran: Its Consequences, Match 13 2036, at <https://groups.google.com/g/greenyouth/c/74_ENtAY5wQ>.

II. US-Israeli War on Iran: A Brief Round-up, March 2 2026, at <https://groups.google.com/g/greenyouth/c/ouJScQMS2CY>.]