In the heart of global geopolitics, when tensions seem like they’ve finally reached a simmer, the cauldron always seems to bubble over again. This week, the Middle East is playing out its own soap opera with renewed fighting around the Strait of Hormuz. The once-tentative ceasefire between ISIS and Iran appears to be nothing more than a mirage, almost as if these negotiations were crafted on rice paper. But what do we expect when we’re dealing with nations who prefer a missile launch over a dialogue?
President Trump and his administration are expressing their diminishing tolerance for Iran’s antics at the United Nations. It’s been clear as day that if Iran believes the current U.S. administration will just sit idly by, they’re mistaken. The U.S. military response has been swift, using the excuse of Iran’s attack on international shipping to flex some military muscles. By now, Iran must be used to such muscle-flexing, given the regular nautical confrontations we all watch like a never-ending action series.
The weekend’s drama saw the U.S. launching a barrage of strikes after Iran targeted yet another oil tanker. It’s becoming a routine performance at this point. Living up to their peacekeeping reputations, U.S. forces hit a variety of strategic Iranian sites. These ranged from surveillance to missile storage, teaching Iran a lesson in ceasefire agreements they seemingly sleep through when it’s being read. What’s the lesson here? Apparently, if you poke a bear, it bites back, but only in strategic locations.
Meanwhile, in the midst of the chaos, Israel faces its rival Hezbollah in a separate but equivalent subplot in another part of the Middle East. Seemingly against all odds, there was some diplomatic progress with new agreements on the table involving Israel and Lebanon. It’s one of those rare positive notes one might find searching through this melodrama; at least here, peace has a fighting chance, and belligerence doesn’t get all the headlines.
Even as technical talks between the U.S. and Iran were meant to advance peace negotiations, the renewed fighting throws that prospect into question. As of now, with missiles flying and ships being targeted, these engagements seem about as effective as a paper shield in a rainstorm. The familiar narrative is that there’s always hope that things will level out. However, history, dear reader, suggests that hope isn’t the strongest of diplomatic tools.
All the while, back on American soil, there is weariness over the U.S. getting dragged into another Middle Eastern quagmire. This sentiment, picked up by Fox News polling, isn’t new. After witnessing previous engagements in the region stretching out into decades, a new approach is desired: one that steers away from perpetual entanglement. Ultimately, while the American public may roll their eyes at another Middle East debacle, let’s keep our fingers crossed, hoping this doesn’t become just another frustrating page in a recurring epic saga—one that could do with a lot less drama and a lot more restraint.
