|
Trending Topics
|
Source: https://www.ynetnews.com/opinions-analysis/article/rjiivc5pzl?tbref=hp
Trump's "Anaconda Plan" to Strangle Iran into Signing a Deal
(Ynet News) Ron Ben-Yishai - In Lebanon, fighting is effectively ongoing. But under limits imposed by President Trump, Israel cannot operate throughout Lebanon or against every target it says it needs to strike. The current ceasefire resembles the ceasefire declared in late 2024 between Israel and Lebanon, during which Israel continued systematically targeting Hizbullah's attempts to rebuild and rearm. Israel has decided to cooperate with a U.S.-Saudi framework aimed at weakening Hizbullah and stripping it of legitimacy to continue fighting. In Iran, the U.S. and Tehran are now waging an economic and psychological war, each seeking to force the other to accept minimum demands in diplomatic talks aimed at ending the war. Trump is using a broad and systematic economic campaign to choke the Iranian regime. Washington chose economic pressure because the U.S. military and the IDF have largely exhausted what they can do from the air and sea against Iran's military and nuclear capabilities. The task now is to preserve those gains and prevent Iran from rebuilding for years. Israel is largely watching from the sidelines while preparing for the possibility that fire resumes. Alongside the naval blockade, Washington is applying economic pressure through every available channel. CNN reported that the U.S. Treasury recently froze $334 million in cryptocurrency accounts used by the Revolutionary Guards. CNN also reported that hackers, apparently acting for Israel, stole $90 million last year from cryptocurrency accounts linked to the Revolutionary Guards. Time may be working against Iran. The naval blockade could cause lasting damage to Iran's oil industry. The oil storage tanks on Kharg Island and at oil fields are already full. As a result, Iran is being forced to reduce production and may soon have to stop pumping altogether. The situation in Gaza is effectively frozen. Hamas refuses to disarm, leaving no progress on Trump's 21-point plan. But Hamas is using the deadlock to reassert its rule and rebuild militarily. Israeli officials say there may be no choice but to resume fighting to remove Hamas from Gaza and disarm it.