Trump's announcement of ceasefire is welcome only if it holds in practice": Ex-diplomat Goel

NEW DELHI, INDIA: Former diplomat Suresh Goel cautiously welcomed US President Donald Trump’s decision to postpone strikes on Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for five days. He said the move is positive only if it holds in practice and warned it could be a ruse to depress crude prices.

Goel, speaking to ANI, said the postponement might be intended to bring down oil prices and urged scepticism until a confirmed outcome emerges. He said the pause should be treated “with a pinch of salt” because Iran has denied any conversations with the US and “nobody speaks the truth in a war”.

“As far as the 5-day ceasefire is concerned, that's a welcome move only if it holds in practice,” Goel said. “Even if US President Trump has told the Department of War not to undertake any such attacks, Iran has denied any conversation or discussions with the US. In fact, Iran has said that this could have been a ruse by US President Trump to bring the crude prices down. Nobody speaks the truth in a war. Therefore, until we have a confirmed outcome, we will have to take everything with a pinch of salt. I do hope that these 5 days can lead to a more durable political solution.”

Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony for the Secretary of Homeland Security, Trump asserted that the US had won the war and claimed Iran's navy, air force and communications had been “completely decimated”. “We're in negotiations right now. I can tell you, they'd like to make a deal and who wouldn't if you were there? Look, their navy's gone, their air force is gone, their communications are gone. Pretty much everything they have is gone,” he said.

On the prospects for a negotiated settlement, Trump said he was hopeful the conflict would end. “I think we are going to end it. I cannot tell you for sure. We have won this... We literally have planes flying over Tehran and other parts of their country. They can't do a thing about it. For instance, if I want to take down that power plant, they can't do a thing about it... They are totally defeated... Militarily, they are dead,” he said.

Trump also emphasised that Iran would not be allowed to possess nuclear weapons.

By RSS/ANI