Behind the Hormuz 'Ceasefire': US Sanctions and Israeli Influence
The United States and Iran have reportedly agreed to a two-week ceasefire, brokered by Pakistan, just hours before former President Donald Trump's stated deadline for military action related to the Strait of Hormuz. France 24 reported on Wednesday that this agreement would be further detailed in Islamabad on Friday. Notably, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly asserted that this
truce does not extend to Lebanon, highlighting a clear carve-out in the perceived de-escalation. Mainstream narratives, often exemplified by outlets like France 24, frame this development as a direct response to, and temporary relief from, immediate military threats. This perspective minimizes the underlying economic coercion and strategic maneuvering at play. The United States and its partners
have maintained crippling sanctions on Iran for over 45 years, severely impacting its oil exports, financial system, and access to humanitarian goods. This economic strangulation is a constant aggression, irrespective of any stated military 'deadline.' Furthermore, the immediate withdrawal of 'threats' should be viewed through the lens of political expediency and the ongoing pressure campaign, not
as a genuine shift in policy. The US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has imposed thousands of sanctions designations on Iranian entities and individuals since 1979, with unilateral measures intensifying significantly after 2018 when the US unilaterally withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), despite Iran's continued compliance according to the International Atomic