By Stan Norwalk, May 12, 2026

The new Iranian leaders are “playing” Trump as he was “playing” them early on but the tides of the Strait of Hormuz are turning. How? By slowing down and stopping the oil, gas, fertilizer and cargo ships from leaving the Strait of Hormuz, raising the prices of goods and services as well as oil, gas and fertilizer which will continue to raise the price of food and fuel internationally. That is a given. Is Trump’s “Art of the Deal” failing? That is their (Iran’s leaders) Ace in the hole but the United States could have a Royal Flush.

Trump’s threats to blow up all their bridges and power grids to get Iran’s leaders to give in to his demands  did not work as the Iranians held their position and did not think he would do that. They gambled and perhaps they won this round.

Trump can’t destroy the bridges and power grids because it would not hurt the government as much as it would hurt the people of Iran and the Iranian leadership sensed this along with the tactic of stopping the flow of the shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz that left Trump with some hard decisions to make that he has not made as of today, May 12, 2026.

Perhaps President Trump’s visit to China this Thursday May 14, 2026 may prove fruitful if Trump can get President Xi Jinping to cooperate by putting pressure on China’s trading partner and ally Iran by cutting off some if not all trade with Iran (especially oil and gas) and get China to stop selling critical parts and military hardware to Iran and start buying oil and gas from the United States or other countries that do not depend on the Strait of Hormuz for these and other products,

That could be a “win win” since China depends on the Strait of Hormuz for its energy. If President Trump prevails, China will begin a new and different relationship with the United States never existing before. Will President Trump’s “Art of the Deal” overcome the current debacle? Stay tuned!