Former Indian Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal has sharply criticized US President Donald Trump's handling of the Iran situation, particularly his decision to extend a ceasefire while maintaining a blockade in the Strait of Hormuz. Sibal accused Trump of using Pakistan as a convenient pretext to manage a crisis of his own making, a move he described as strategically flawed and potentially dangerous.
Trump's Ceasefire Extension and Pakistan's Role
President Trump announced an indefinite extension of the ceasefire with Iran, citing a request from Pakistan's leadership, including Field Marshal Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Trump stated that the extension was intended to give Tehran's leadership time to formulate a unified proposal. Simultaneously, he directed the US military to continue the blockade, asserting it would remain in place until a proposal was submitted and discussions concluded.
Sibal Rejects Trump's Reasoning
Sibal vehemently rejected Trump's rationale, calling the excuse that Iran's government needed time to unify its position "as lame as it can be." He argued that Iran had already clearly communicated its stance, emphasizing that US demands went beyond Iran's existing proposals and sought to achieve through negotiation what could not be won through military conflict.
"Trump was using Pakistan as a convenient crutch to extract himself from a trap of his own making," Sibal stated, adding, "Unlike Oman's FM, Pakistan will not expose the reality."
The former secretary also highlighted skepticism within Iran, noting that official Iranian media was questioning Pakistan's perceived pro-US role. Furthermore, Sibal pointed out Trump's apparent prioritization of Pakistan's military leadership over its civilian government, remarking, "Trump is again slighting the Pak PM by giving more importance to the Army Chief’s request, which he mentions first."
Hormuz Blockade: A 'Serious Problem'
While welcoming the indefinite extension of the ceasefire as a positive development, Sibal issued a stern warning regarding the continued US blockade. He declared the blockade a "serious problem," as it obstructs the flow of oil and impedes genuine negotiations. This ongoing pressure, he suggested, undermines the very diplomatic process Trump claimed to be fostering.
Trump had also asserted that Iran was facing severe financial distress, claiming the nation was "losing 500 million dollars a day" and was "starving for cash." The ceasefire extension occurred just hours before a previous two-week truce was set to expire, leading to the postponement of a planned US delegation visit to Islamabad for talks with Iranian representatives.