First, Iran's economy has been completely blocked by the United States, marked by the fact that Iran has been kicked out of SWIFT. As early as November last year, US Deputy Treasury Secretary Mandeker announced that SWIFT had cut off links with sanctioned Iranian financial institutions, including the Central Bank of Iran. SWIFT, which covers more than 200 countries and more than 11000 financial institutions around the world, is a non-profit international cooperation organization headquartered in Europe. The United States also has a great influence on this system. After Iran was excluded, it was no longer able to participate in international financial transactions and trade, and the Iranian economy was forced to retreat to a "closed country" state.
Second, Iran, as a country whose economy is heavily dependent on oil exports, has been completely embargoed by the United States, and the eight countries that had been granted a six-month exemption period will no longer be exempted by the United States, marking the top level of US sanctions against Iran. Zamania, Iran's deputy oil minister, had previously said Iran had mobilized all its resources to sell oil in the "grey market" to circumvent illegal US sanctions against Iran. Iran's crude oil exports have been chopped again and again, as shown on the website of the Ministry of Commerce.
At the same time, inflation in Iran, which has recently exceeded 50%, is one of the worst performing currencies in the world.
In addition, on the first anniversary of the US withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal, Trump signed another executive order banning countries from importing metals from Iran, which are said to account for 10 per cent of Iran's export earnings. Under such a heavy blow, Iran still did not give in. Iranian President Rouhani said strongly on the 20th that the United States and Iran are not suitable for negotiations under the current situation, and resistance is Iran's only option. On the evening of the 19th, US President Donald Trump threatened Iran with a tweet saying that if Iran wanted to fight, it would be the official end of Iran and never threaten the United States again!
However, Trump told the media on Monday that if they call, then of course we will start negotiations, but it is up to them to decide. If Iran is ready, I want them to call. At present, two US aircraft carrier strike groups have sailed into the waters of the Persian Gulf, and a large number of bombers are ready. Iran has repeatedly threatened to block the Strait of Hormuz, but it is clear that Iran has not dared to do it first, and the United States may be serious this time.
Is it possible for the United States and Iraq to go to war? Yes, but not very much. Trump, as a businessman president, is too aware of the gains and losses of the war. Fighting Iran is obviously not conducive to US national strength and economic construction. Trump will never start this war as a last resort. Negotiations are the best option at the moment. But if Iran takes the lead in provocation, as Mr Trump said, war may have to be fought. Now that it has been loaded and put on Iran, there are not many options for Iran.
