The Western press begins another week with a focus on the conflict in the Middle East, writes BTA.
US President Donald Trump is considering a military operation to seize Iran's uranium, writes the "Daily Telegraph".
The British publication refers to information from "The Wall Street Journal", according to which the American leader is still assessing what the risk would be for American soldiers in such an operation. Trump urges his advisers to pressure Iran to hand over its uranium as a condition for ending the war.
The US has opened a Pandora's Box in the Middle East and only Iran can benefit from it, writes the headline of an editorial in the "Independent".
With the Red Sea under the control of the Houthis and the Strait of Hormuz under Iranian control, the global economy faces catastrophe, warns the British publication.
"The Independent" draws attention to a statement by Donald Trump at an event in Miami aimed at promoting American investment in Saudi Arabia, at which Trump said that although Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is a "great son" of his father the king, he "didn't expect him to kiss me in the ass . . . He thought Trump would be just another loser American president whose country is going down the drain. But now he has to be nice to me.
It would be good if these typically vulgar statements marked the limits of Donald Trump's stupidity, writes "The Independent". A much more serious and worrying indication of his delusions were his statements that the Iranians were begging for a deal and that they would have to open the Strait of Hormuz, which he jokingly called the Trump Strait.
While Trump was saying all this, Iranian missiles and drones were raining down on the US air base "Prince Sultan" in Saudi Arabia, wounding 12 US servicemen and damaging several aircraft, the "Independent" points out.
As many expected, Yemeni Houthi rebels, long-time allies of Tehran, also joined the war - they fired long-range missiles at Israel. The Israel Defense Forces expanded their operations in southern Lebanon, reaching Beirut. The Iranians hit an aluminum plant in Abu Dhabi, and another 3,500 US Marines and Navy soldiers arrived in the Middle East. This brings the total number of US troops in the region to 53,500, with more expected to arrive.
It certainly doesn't feel like either side in the conflict is "begging" for peace, the "Independent" writes. On the contrary, the war is expanding and escalating. Two immediate and major dangers arise from the resumption of Houthi activity, the British publication writes. The first is the resumption of the long and merciless proxy war between Iran and Saudi Arabia in Yemen, which in the current circumstances is much more likely to lead to a direct clash between Iranian and Saudi forces - something that has so far been avoided. Perhaps it is only a matter of time before Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, frustrated by the Americans who have failed to protect them, feel obliged to respond to Iranian strikes. The second danger related to the Houthis, which the "Independent" warns about, is that the Red Sea, like the Persian Gulf, could be closed to shipping and the supply of oil, gas and much more to be even more limited.
Iran, in other words, could soon hold the world economy hostage, the British publication warns.
The Americans and Iranians may not "beg" for peace, nor engage in direct negotiations, but it is an open secret that they exchange messages through Egypt, Turkey and especially Pakistan. It must be said that this war will worsen the situation of America and the West, the Gulf countries will feel vulnerable in a new way, Yemen and Lebanon will be even more devastated, and the Islamic Republic of Iran will most likely continue to exist. President Trump will have difficulty convincing Americans that this "excursion" has been worth it when the congressional elections come around in November. Trump is not aiming to lose a war and lose this year's election. He will lose too, concludes "Independent".
V. "The Guardian" dwells on Trump's words that Iran's new leaders are "very sensible" people.
Trump said this yesterday after Pakistan, which is acting as a mediator between Tehran and Washington, said it was preparing to host talks in the coming days that would aim to end the war.
The British publication points out that according to Trump, the US and Iran are talking "directly and indirectly".
More US troops have arrived in the Middle East, and Tehran has warned that it will not accept humiliation, writes "The Guardian".
The Pentagon is preparing for weeks of ground operations in Iran, writes a headline in the "Washington Post".
If President Trump approves the plan, it could mark a new phase of the war, which will become significantly more dangerous for US soldiers than the first four weeks of the conflict were, notes the American publication.