THE latest statement released by President Donald Trump is not only abusive in nature but also highlights intentions for Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) given the strength and resolve of Iranian people. The US President broke all records of indecency by threatening to observe Tuesday as ‘Power Plant Day and Bridge Day’ implying his forces will destroy Iranian civil infrastructure as per his earlier warning to Iran to make a deal or be ready to be pushed to the ‘Stone Age’, plans that will clearly constitute grave war crimes. He went to the extent of using vulgar language not expected of a leader of his stature: “Open the Fuckin’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell.”
There was understandable worldwide outrage against the remarks of the President, which also evoked severe reaction within the United States as well. The unanimous condemnation is a message that the civilized world and saner elements are deeply hurt over the coarse language that is even avoided during roadside talk. This is not for the first time that the US leader stooped too low in churning out despicable remarks as a few days back he publicly used demeaning remarks for a towering global personality and hurled threats of bombing Iran to the Stone Age. The world is shocked at the choice of words by a head of state of the superpower, prompting Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to say on the ‘X’ “He’s threatening possible war crimes and alienating allies. This is who he is, but this is not who we are. Our country deserves so much better.” Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut frankly stated “If I were in Trump’s cabinet, I would spend Easter calling constitutional lawyers about the 25th Amendment,” referring to the clause that provides for a transfer of power if the president is unable to serve. Senator Bernie Sanders wrote on X: “One month after starting the war in Iran, this is the statement of the president of the United States on Easter Sunday. These are the ravings of a dangerous and mentally unbalanced individual. Congress has got to act NOW. End this war.” Similar reaction came from several other US lawmakers and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, in a telephonic conversation with his Iranian counterpart, on Sunday said Washington should abandon “the language of ultimatums” and return to negotiations.
The repeated warnings to Iran, plans to commit war crimes and use of abusive language against the enemy are all indications the US President is utterly frustrated as his war plans did not produce the intended results and barbaric bombing has so far failed to break the will of the brave Iranian nation to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Contrary to pre-war rhetoric, the United States proved helpless in the face of effective closure of Strait of Hormuz by Iran and international isolation of the US increased as no country of the globe is willing to support his plans for forcible opening of the channel. Instead, different countries prefer negotiating bilateral terms for passage of their ships through Hormuz. Iran has demonstrated its capability to withstand the pressure and in response to the latest threat Tehran has retorted “whole region going to burn”. In fact, the US President has the audacity to talk about bombing civilian targets and population only because his own country is beyond the strike range of Iran but his conduct and actions are putting lives and economies of the Gulf countries in danger. This is the way he treats his allies, who were supposed to be given a blanket security cover. In an interview, President Trump has expressed the hope for a deal by Tuesday but his attitude and statements are not helpful for the process of de-escalation. He wants to cover up his military embarrassment on the negotiating table but Tehran is not willing to accommodate such a bail-out.
