Iran suddenly becomes a leader in the game of chicken with the powerful US — CNN

Iran is suddenly becoming the leader in the game of chicken with the powerful United States. This is reported by CNN.

"Since the peace talks have stalled, and US President Donald Trump has not named a deadline for the end of the war with Iran, the question on everyone's lips is the same: who will be able to withstand the suffering caused by this war for longer? There is more and more evidence that this is Iran. With no immediate threat of a return to a harsh bombing campaign, Iran is achieving its main military goal — raising oil prices — and putting pressure on Trump to agree to some of his demands," the publication says.

Trump, in turn, does not recognize any problems. "I have all the time in the world, and I have There is no Iran. The clock is ticking! Time is not on their side!" — Trump wrote on social networks today.

Meanwhile, Iranian state media discussed what Tehran could attack next. The Tasnim news agency reported that "at least seven" underwater information cables serving the Persian Gulf countries are concentrated along a narrow sea corridor in The Strait of Hormuz. NATO's experience in the Baltic Sea shows that such an asymmetric war is expensive and takes a lot of time, the TV channel notes.

The Iranian military also says it will strike targets in the Persian Gulf countries if Tehran's demands are not met. The list of targets included, in particular, the Ruwais refinery in the UAE and Abqaiq in Saudi Arabia is the world's largest crude oil refinery.

"Iranian trolling of their opponents is not news. However, what is new is a scenario in which Iran becomes an unexpected leader in the game of chicken with the powerful United States... Iran's diplomatic superposition is to be able to look around the corner, predict the future and know how to position itself to take advantage of it. The ability to get something without being noticed, and then pack it up and move on to the next segment of their requirements has become a real art for them. Lifting the American blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has become their next goal, which Trump publicly and firmly refuses to do. In Islamabad, the almost unintelligible whisper of leaks turned into the chirping of crickets. This stage of behind-the-scenes mediation has become so sensitive that no one close to this experience is willing to risk any calculations to calm the mood and restore confidence. In the deafening diplomatic silence here, it is the march of world markets that fills the silence," CNN concludes.