President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that he canceled planned airstrikes against Iran after the regime apparently caved and agreed to a deal — one that includes the removal of enriched uranium, limits on missile production, and the end of Tehran's funding of terrorist proxies. You know, all the stuff Barack Obama forgot to ask for.
But sure, tell us again how "diplomacy" works better when you bow to mullahs and ship them pallets of cash in the middle of the night.
The announcement came after two straight days of military exchanges between the U.S. and Iran, triggered by the downing of an American military helicopter. Trump had posted on Truth Social just hours earlier that the U.S. would hit Iran "VERY HARD TONIGHT." Then he pulled back — not out of weakness, but because Iran blinked first.
"We just made a great settlement of the war with Iran, and we're going to be subject to finalization of documents, which should get done over the next few days," Trump said from the Oval Office. He told the New York Post the agreement was "pretty much all wrapped up."
That's what negotiating from strength looks like. You park the Navy in their backyard, threaten to seize Kharg Island and take "total control" of Iran's oil and gas industry, and suddenly the ayatollahs discover the lost art of compromise.
Trump said on Truth Social that the decision to cancel strikes was made "based on the fact that discussions with the Islamic Republic of Iran have been brought to the highest level of Iranian leadership and approved." He added that "discussions and final points have been, in both concept and great detail, approved by all parties involved" — listing the U.S., Israel, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Turkey, Pakistan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, and Egypt among them.
That's not a deal. That's a coalition.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu got on the phone with Trump Wednesday evening and, according to his office, "expressed his appreciation for President Trump's commitment that the final agreement at the conclusion of negotiations will include the removal of enriched material, the dismantling of enrichment infrastructure, limits on missile production, and the cessation of Iran's support for its terrorist proxies in the region."
Read that list again. Removal of enriched material. Dismantling enrichment infrastructure. Limits on missiles. Cutting off terrorist funding. Obama's deal didn't include a single one of those things, and the media spent eight years telling us it was the greatest diplomatic achievement since sliced bread.
Meanwhile, Iran's military announced the Strait of Hormuz — the key shipping chokepoint they've been blocking throughout the conflict — was "closed to all marine traffic." U.S. Central Command fired back that the waterway was still open. Trump confirmed the naval blockade "will remain in full force and effect until this Transaction is finalized."
Translation: we're not moving a single ship until the ink is dry.
The semiofficial Iranian Tasnim news agency tried to play it cool, cautioning that "until any potential understanding is officially announced by Iran, any statements by Trump on this matter should be viewed in the context of his previous claims." Sure, guys. Keep that stiff upper lip while your economy implodes and your enrichment facilities are on the negotiating table.
Wall Street certainly believed the deal was real. The S&P 500 surged 1.75%, the Nasdaq Composite jumped 2.5%, and the Dow rocketed up 930 points in the final minutes of trading after Trump's announcement. U.S. crude oil dropped more than 3.8% and Brent crude fell 4.2% — because markets know that when Iran folds, oil flows.
Trump noted the market reaction himself: "Stock markets up 1000 points, that means they like the deal."
He said a signing could happen "maybe this weekend," possibly in Europe. A time and place would be announced shortly.
Let's be clear about what just happened. Two days ago we were in a shooting war with Iran. Today, we have a framework that — if finalized — would strip Iran of its nuclear enrichment capability, gut its missile program, and end its bankrolling of Hezbollah and Hamas. Netanyahu is thrilled. The markets are ecstatic. And the naval blockade stays until the mullahs put pen to paper.
This is what happens when you elect a president who understands that peace comes through strength, not through John Kerry flying to Geneva to beg for a photo op.
Obama gave Iran $150 billion and got nothing. Trump gave Iran an ultimatum and got everything.