Trump is desperate. How can he resolve the Iran shitshow?

[TooBigForMyBoots]

He is flailing, desperate and increasingly unhinged. Weakening the USA, alienating allies and strengthening the enemies of democracy with every step.

How can he fix this?
Can he fix it at all?

• [Title edited to correct typo]

Reported in The Times that the White House has denied that remarks by Vance contained any suggestion of a US nuclear strike against Iran.

After Vance said US forces had tools they “so far haven’t decided to use” an X account said he had implied “Trump might use nuclear weapons”.

The White House responded, “Literally nothing @VP said here implies this, you absolute buffoons”.

I doubt that's any consolation to the Civilisation under threat of genocide tonight.😒

Exactly.

There is zero chance they will go nuclear on Iran.
Surely even the most feeble minded realise this?

How have you come up with zero chance? He's a mad man who wants to win at any cost. I truly believe he intends to use a nuclear weapon. Which in turn will have globally catastrophic consequences. We should all be very very worried. No one is prepared to try and stop him, or they would have done by now.

The US will not launch an unprovoked nuclear attack on a country he has already described as completely defeated, where he has triggered regime change.
He could ramp up the bombing, but it’s not going nuclear.

Iran would close the straits for years, every stock market across the globe would bottom out, there would be unforeseen consequences for decades to come. It would be the end of the American empire.

Once I would have said the US would not threaten genocide or to destroy a civilisation, but that's no longer the case.

Trump can still declare victory and turn around and go home.
It is his best bet at this point.
Anything else will be a war crime. Legal proceedings, arrest warrants, sanctions.....
Best option is "We won. We are going back home"

Vance denied it but when the BBC asked for clarification:

Asked by the BBC to clarify its stance on using nuclear weapons, the White House sent the following statement from Leavitt: "The Iranian regime has until 8PM Eastern Time to meet the moment and make a deal with the United States. Only the President knows where things stand and what he will do."

I don't think the White House could have made it any clearer that a nuclear attack was not on the cards when they said, “Literally nothing @VP said here implies this, you absolute buffoons”.

When asked later by the BBC to clarify they could have just re-iterated no nukes but they didn't. This update is after Vances response.

Yep.🤞this will be a TACO Tuesday.

I don't think (hope) he will actually be crazy enough to Nuke Iran but crazy enough to inflict substantial damage and carry out war crimes and that is terrifying enough.

I cannot comprehend today’s developments. The world is crying out for accomplished diplomats. This brinkmanship is mind boggling. The world is a dark dark place.

Agree
The unimaginable is already happening

It wouldn't have helped if they did since people on here have decided that the White House response re Vance isn't trustworthy anyway.

There is nothing you can really say to allay people's irrational fears.

I wouldn't call the fears Irrational as Trump's actions are irrational. There's more coming out now how top US officials warned Trump that Netanyahu's plan on what would happen if they want to war with Iran was 'farcical' but Trump didn't listen.

Netanyahu really oversold how 'easy' it would be to defeat Iran and Trump the idiot went along with it despite warnings from his own advisors that wouldn't be the case.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/report-before-war-top-us-officials-told-trump-that-netanyahus-regime-change-plan-was-bullshit-farcical/

The BBC asked Karoline Leavitt to clarify the White House stance on use of nukes. Her 100% absolutely reassuring response:

“The Iranian regime has until 8PM Eastern Time to meet the moment and make a deal with the United States. Only the President knows where things stand and what he will do."

Wow

Pakistan has suggested a 2 week ceasefire during which the Straight of Hormuz will be open.

Iran said to be positively reviewing the proposal.

Trump considering it too.

He needs an off-ramp that will enable him to climb down without losing too much face.

Let's hope that Pakistan can find a way of giving it to him.

Feels like they already have - he just has to agree to a 2 week ceasefire while the details get hammered out. Meanwhile Iran opens the Straight of Hormuz.

That's if they agree to open it.

I can’t decide whether I should stay up tonight and watch the end of the world or just go to bed and hope that it all blows over.