
President Trump seems to believe that he is dealing with a group of rational pragmatic people like others he has dealt with in the business world. A sort of give and take type of people who can find middle ground on any deal. The Mullahs are hardly the type. They are religious fanatics to their very core who are driven — now that they are in power and sit on a sea of black gold — by their deadly messianic dream to rule the world by whatever means, piecemeal or whole, intact or in shambles. Preferably in shambles so that their long-awaited and prayed-for Saheb-u-zaman (their messiah)— from his hiding place and returns and set the world straight in accordance with the idealized Shia Islamic vision.
They also figured that re-election coming up would make Trump most hesitant to unleash his military on them. Furthermore, and the best scenario for them, Trump might get bounced and the Democrats would surely again come around and be nice to them.
Saudis making money hand over fist selling oil while the Mullahs are starving? No, that’s not very nice. They decided they would do something about that. Knowing full well that those Saudi boys have no stomach at all for entangling with Iran militarily.
The result, if that oocurs, is a huge victory for the Mullahs and a new long term lease on life.
I certainly hope I’m wrong as I see. it, but this has been the case for the past 40 years of US Presidents. Perhaps Trump, who seems to have the guts that they lacked, will change that. It is the world's only hope.