Hardly a day goes by w/out an incident involving Iran. The latest had Iran intercepting two British tankers in the Strait of Hormuz detaining one then releasing the other. Other incidents have occurred. The US claimed it shot down an Iranian drone flying too close to a US Navy ship while the Iranian's denied any of its drones were missing. The worry is a miscalculation of the intent of an adversary unleashing a new hot war.

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President Trump at a press conference saying he'd talk with Iran anytime

Hardly a day goes by some "incident" involving Iran gets the US, now lately the British, up in arms warning the Iranian's its actions will not be tolerated.

The latest has the Iranian's intercepting two British flagged oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz detaining one while inspecting it then releasing it hours later allowing it go onto its destination. However the other tanker was said by Iran to have damaged an Iranian fishing boat and brought to Iran for a further investigation.

The British are calling it a retaliation for their marines seizing an Iranian oil tanker off the Strait of Gibraltar some two weeks ago with the dubious claim it was headed to Syria in violation of EU sanctions. The Iranian's called it an "act of piracy" and saw it as the Brits doing the US bidding.

Other incidents have occurred with US claiming it shot down an Iranian drone that supposedly came too close to one of its Naval ships in the Persian Gulf with Iran countering none of its drones were lost, even saying the US Navy shot down one of its own drones.

Let's recall the Iranian's did shoot down a US spy drone it says violated its air space. That was the incident where Trump was going to retaliate but at the last minute called off the strike.

But let's get to the heart of the matter.

Ever since last year when Trump withdrew the US from the 2015 nuclear deal President Obama signed with Iran along with Britain, France, China, Russia and Germany and reinstated unilateral sanctions on Iran, there's been an ongoing crisis with Iran perpetrated by the US withdrawal.

Iran was in full compliance with the international agreement which all the other signees concurred. They wanted the deal to continue even without the US. The problem is the US has threatened secondary sanctions against the EU countries if they continue trade with Iran, particularly oil which the US has vowed Iran be completely shut off from trading any of its oil.

It isn't much of a stretch to imagine the US intending to provoke Iran into committing some act that justifies a US retaliation.

Iran does have its red lines. Any attack on its territory or its air space it will defend itself. That was made clear when it shot down the US spy drone that violated its air space.

Trump says he wants new negotiations with Iran. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamanei says that would be tantamount "to drinking poison".

It's not that Iran isn't willing to talk. It simply wants the US return to the nuclear deal it signed and all US sanctions against Iran be ended.

Trump says he doesn't want war with Iran. But he painted himself in a corner by unilaterally withdrawing from the nuclear deal believing he alone would force Iran to renegotiate a new deal.

Iran also doesn't want war with the US but isn't willing to bend to US pressure.

So it appears the US or its proxies provocations against Iran will likely continue.

What is most worrisome to this observer is a miscalculation, a misinterpretation of the intent of an adversary or an accident could happen that unleashes a new hot war with Iran that many knowledgeable observers believe would bring a worldwide catastrophe.

There's a US presidential election next year with Trump expected to run for re-election. A war with Iran could turn much of the country against him.

If, and it's big if, Trump were to return the US to the nuclear deal with Iran and end the sanctions on that country he could be seen as a statesman avoiding a new war. He'd be a shoe-in. What could the Democrats do, call him an appeaser and clamor for war with Iran?

Regardless of one's distaste for the "Donald" let's hope he has a moment of lucidity and avoids a war with Iran.

Authors Website: dglefc22733@aol.com

Authors Bio:
Retired. The author of "DECEIT AND EXCESS IN AMERICA, HOW THE MONEYED INTERESTS HAVE STOLEN AMERICA AND HOW WE CAN GET IT BACK", Authorhouse, 2009