US PRESIDENT Donald Trump is in deep trouble. His war on Iran, waged together with Israel, has not been successful and it is making him and the Republicans increasingly unpopular – as the USA heads to mid-term elections in November.

With that domestic pressure in mind, Trump signed a “deal” with Iran. He described it as a historic peace agreement. Only the most hardened Trumpites believed him. In reality, the deal was little more than a ceasefire. It agreed that the Strait of Hormuz would be opened again – which was not a victory, as the Strait had been open before Trump began his attack. It agreed there would be no more military action – no more US attacks on Iran or Iran on US; no more Israeli attacks on Lebanon or Hezbollah on Israel.

The deal lasted around two days.

●First the ceasefire broke. It was always a problem that Israel and Lebanon or Hezbollah were parties to the peace talks. They didn’t sign the ceasefire deal, though it stated that they would cease military action. There have been various ceasefire agreements over the last three months, including one a day or so ago, when Israel said it had a ceasefire agreement with Lebanon. Israel has always inserted a caveat into each deal: it will cease military action, except military action against Hesbollah – which is no ceasefire at all. Having agreed the latest two ceasefire agreements, Israel… carried out further attacks on Lebanon. At least 20 people have died during the Israeli strikes carried out in the first day of the “ceasefire”.

●Second, Iran reacted to the Israeli attacks on Lebanon by closing the Strait of Hormuz on the grounds that the US has not delivered the cessation of military action.

This leaves President Trump (a) with a considerable amount of (costly) egg on his face and (b) facing the dilemma, once more, of whether he should return to negotiations or new military action. More military action would be the move of a Very Stupid Man – but Trump is a Very Stupid Man, so start worrying. He also threatened, just before the ceasefire deal was agreed, to bring bombs down on the heads of the Iranian in the language of a video game, not a peace negotiation.

The Democratic Party in the USA needs to grasp the moment and condemn Trump’s war – and his presidency. Other leaders across the world need to join in.

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