New Delhi, May 11 (ANI) — West Asia analyst Waiel Awwad said on Monday that actions by US President Donald Trump are producing a ‘curious and very jittery’ movement in global financial markets. He warned that markets worldwide, including in the United States, are reacting anxiously to rising oil and energy prices driven by recent geopolitical developments.
Speaking to ANI, Awwad argued that Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are largely addressing international and domestic public opinion rather than focusing on a substantive nuclear dispute. He said the issue of uranium enrichment was never the true cause of the current tensions. According to Awwad, an understanding reached at the last Geneva meeting had Iran and the United States agree that Iran would halt enrichment and transfer certain uranium out of the country.
Awwad described Iran’s core demand as a complete cessation of hostile actions by the US and Israel and the lifting of sanctions. In return, he said, Tehran has pledged to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and allow free passage for commercial shipping. He added that the US president appears to be heavily influenced by Netanyahu, whom Awwad called a principal advisor, and suggested US policy lacks independent direction.
He also claimed that US officials have been told the conflict would continue until Israel’s objectives are achieved, with the uranium program to be addressed at a later stage. Awwad reiterated that Iran has indicated willingness to remove enriched material from its territory, on the condition that the United States provides an international guarantee preventing further attacks.
Before hostilities escalated, Awwad said, Iran had limited enrichment to 3.65 percent for civilian use as part of prior arrangements. He described the public focus on nuclear issues as a pretext that obscures broader damage he attributed to US and Israeli operations, which he said have destroyed more than 27,000 targets, including about 100 schools and 50 academic institutions. He added that over 15,000 civilians have been killed and maintained that, despite the humanitarian toll, Iran will not succumb to American pressure.
Awwad urged President Trump to stop taking policy direction from Netanyahu, arguing that the Israeli leader’s political survival is tied to ongoing conflicts in the region — whether with the Palestinians, in Lebanon, or with Iran.
In a separate interview cited by Awwad, Netanyahu told CBS News that while the campaign had accomplished a great deal, it was not finished. He said there remained enriched material to be removed, enrichment sites to be dismantled, proxies to be confronted, and ballistic missile programs to be degraded.
(This report uses syndicated content as received. The Tribune assumes no responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or content of the syndicated material.)
