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Welcome to The Logoff: Is the US-Iran deal “over”?
What’s occurring? The US launched a second consecutive day of strikes in opposition to Iran on Wednesday, deepening a breach within the three-week-old “memorandum of understanding” between the 2 nations.
The rapid incident started on Monday after Iran attacked a number of ships within the Strait of Hormuz. The US struck Iran on Tuesday, and Iran responded with strikes of its personal in neighboring Kuwait and Bahrain, that are each residence to US navy installations.
The US additionally reimposed sanctions on Iranian oil on Tuesday, proscribing what had been a new revenue stream for the regime.
When requested in regards to the ceasefire on Wednesday, President Donald Trump, who’s at present at a NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, mentioned, “I believe it’s over. I don’t wish to cope with them anymore. They’re scum.”
What’s the context? As my colleague Josh Keating wrote final month, the top of the Iran struggle has been tremendously exaggerated from the leap. This isn’t even the primary time the US has attacked Iranian targets because the two sides reached a “memorandum of understanding” in mid-June, which laid out a 60-day pathway towards a extra everlasting deal (a minimum of in concept).
Different issues additionally abound, together with the standing of the Strait, the excellent query of Iran’s nuclear program, and the Israel-Lebanon battle.
So what now? It’s laborious to say. Violence has damaged out and receded at different factors through the ceasefire, and Trump’s feedback may be an unreliable indicator of the place issues are headed. However the strikes are as soon as once more grinding site visitors by the Strait to a halt, based on CNN, and oil costs are rising.
If that continues, Trump might additionally start to lose floor on fuel costs, which had been falling following the ceasefire settlement — and with the midterms rapidly approaching and voters broadly sad in regards to the state of the economic system, he doesn’t have a lot time left.
Talking of the midterms: The street to manage of the US Senate could effectively run by Maine, the place Democratic nominee Graham Platner is dealing with critical new allegations which can be more likely to finish his marketing campaign. On a particular episode of his podcast America, Truly, my colleague Astead Herndon explains why the left ignored Platner’s crimson flags within the first place.
And with that, it’s time to sign off…
Right here’s a Logoff piece if I’ve ever seen one: The ethical case for being much less on-line, that includes some enjoyable historical past about Luddism (as all the time, it’s a present hyperlink).
Plus, from the World Cup: No video games right this moment. However don’t miss the Vox video group on how soccer gamers practice for chaos.
Thanks for studying, have an incredible night, and we’ll see you again right here tomorrow!
