US PRESIDENT Donald Trump has agreed to delay his unlawful attack on Iran. He had promised to devastate the country tonight, with missiles and bombs targeting civil infrastructure.

Trump appeared quite cheerful as he announced that he would implement a two week casefire between the US and Iran, a deal brokered by Pakistan. In return, he announced that Iran would re-open the Strait of Hormuz – a move that Iran has not confirmed it will agree to do.

What on earth is going on?

Although Trump’s “blink” came a couple of hours before “Armageddon” was due to start, it had probably been a while in the planning. Earlier today, the US carried out further strikes on Kharg Island, where Iran’s major oil terminal is located. There were also explosions in Tehran. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that Israel had struck railways and bridges on Tuesday, well before Trump’s deadline to hit civilian infrastructure. Israel claimed these targets were used by Iranian armed fores. Did the US and Israel carry out these attacks as a last salvo, knowing they would not be running Armageddon after all?

So many observers have been revolted by Trump’s belligerent, racist and bullying statements – not least was his promise that “a whole civilisation will die tonight.” It is unlikely that this shock has caused Trump’s reversal. It sounds more like Trump had accepted he needed to stop the war some days ago, and these last few willy-waving rants had just been Trump having a last go at letting out some far-right rhetoric.

This is not a war between two parties: three parties are involved, with many observers assuming Israel has manoeuvred to get the USA involved in its pet project of removing the threat that Israel posed. While Trump appears go have back-pedalled, Iran’s ten point plan calls for a permanent end to the fighting and reparations (unlikely) and for Israel to stop attacking Lebanon and Yemen. Israel has taken over large parts of Lebanon in an attempt to remove pro-Iranian forces: it may be prepared to stop going forward, but it is unlikely to leave.

Stepping back from conflict has hurt the USA, which has had its bluster – and its reputation – harmed by Iran’s resilience. Its bank balance has also suffered. It would be nice to think the climbdown has harmed the far-right global battle for control of the west, but there is probably still a great deal of work to do to secure that one yet.

This battle may be paused, but the war is not yet over – in the USA, in Europe, or in the Middle East.

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