President Trump believes that he has won the war with the Iranian regime, and that we are in what amounts to the armistice that ended World War I. You may recall that Germany gave up the fight, but the Treaty of Versailles came 228 days later, formally ending the war.
BREAKING | Iran’s state IRIB News Agency just published Tehran’s official framing of its response: “Iran has rejected the US proposal.” Demands include war reparations, control over the Strait of Hormuz, end of all sanctions, frozen assets released. Note the discrepancy: WSJ and…
— GeoInsider (@InsiderGeo) May 10, 2026
BREAKING | Iran’s state IRIB News Agency just published Tehran’s official framing of its response: “Iran has rejected the US proposal.” Demands include war reparations, control over the Strait of Hormuz, end of all sanctions, frozen assets released. Note the discrepancy: WSJ and Al Mayadeen framed the same response as a “counter-proposal.” IRIB calls it a rejection.
The Iranians don’t see it that way at all. They view their ability to remain standing after the severe blows from the United States as proof that they can retain their strategic power no matter what the United States and Israel throw at them.
An Iranian source told Tasnim: “We just saw the reaction of the so-called president of the United States to Iran’s response. It has no importance; No one in Iran writes proposals to please Trump. The negotiating team should draft proposals only for the rights of the Iranian… https://t.co/ohKMO7y7qi
— Barak Ravid (@BarakRavid) May 10, 2026
An Iranian source told Tasnim: “We just saw the reaction of the so-called president of the United States to Iran’s response. It has no importance; No one in Iran writes proposals to please Trump. The negotiating team should draft proposals only for the rights of the Iranian people, and when Trump is dissatisfied with them, naturally that is better.”
Both sides see the current cease-fire as leaving them in the driver’s seat.
That explains why, in response to President Trump’s proposal, Iran basically spat in his face. And make no mistake, that is what they did, and have been doing every time they lob a few drones or missiles at our allies in the Gulf.
Trump appears to believe that Iran is bluffing, and perhaps he has some intelligence suggesting they are. But if so, it is not at all apparent in Iran’s behavior, which is aggressive.
WHO COULD HAVE POSSIBLY FORSEEN THIS https://t.co/Zx0VYzZBrq
— Bonchie (@bonchieredstate) May 10, 2026
Iran has, if anything, tightened its stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz, threatening the underwater cables that carry about 20% of the world’s internet traffic. This is an adaptation of a Russian tactic used to harass Europe, in which Russian trawlers drag their anchors to destroy fiber optic cables on the ocean floor.
🚨 JUST IN: Iran informs President Trump he will make a “HUGE MISTAKE” if he DARES resume hostilities — and their President says they’ll REFUSE to “bow our heads”
Iran wants to KEEP the nuclear facilities, control over the Strait, and even some uranium
NO WONDER 47 told them… pic.twitter.com/jxmTWXF3NM
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) May 10, 2026
Netanyahu is anxious to resume hostilities, and there are indications that Gulf states fear that Trump will leave Iran in a position to harm them and retain control of the Strait.
“I think it accomplished a great deal, but it’s not over,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tells 60 Minutes about the war in Iran. Netanyahu says highly enriched uranium must be removed from Iran and believes “it can be done physically.” pic.twitter.com/N5XbvzpYa0
— 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) May 10, 2026
The ball is very much in Trump’s court. He may be waiting to respond until after his summit with Xi, but that is a double-edged sword. If it looks like Trump will back down in response to Iranian threats, he will be weakened. On the other hand, it is likely that he and Xi have been discussing the influence China can use to pressure Iran into making concessions.
What isn’t in doubt is that the status quo is unsustainable for both sides, and a growing sense that Trump is weak will put more pressure on him, while his continued forbearance will stiffen the spines of Iranians even more, even as it costs them.
Trump appears to be in a box. The anticipated deadline for Iran’s oil apocalypse has already passed, and there has been no movement, except in the date it should arrive. Clearly, that deadline is not years ahead, but is it months? Can Trump afford to wait that long, while looking weak?
Trump believes he has all the cards. The Iranians think they do. If Trump wants to win this game he needs to start using some of those high cards.
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