BREAKING! Trump announces, after having had phone calls with the leaders of Saudi, UAE, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, and Bahrain - and separately with Israel - a deal between the US and Iran, subject to final approval, has essentially been reached. If you were wondering why warmongers in Washington have been freaking out, it's because of this: Peace is their nightmare. A few points: 1. Trump knows he will be attacked for this deal. The regional anchoring of this deal is not only important for its viability on the ground, but it also gives him a degree of protection in Washington. Obama managed to get massive international backing for his deal, but limited to lukewarm anchoring in the region. 2. Trump uses "The Islamic Republic of Iran," instead of just Iran, which will be noticed in Tehran. 3. Trump says he also spoke to Netanyahu and that the call "went well." The absence of details is interesting here. In summary: The two sides have not crossed the finishing line yet, but it is now visible and within reach.
