President Trump wants to postpone his visit to China over Iran war

The Israeli-American war against Iran continues, with Israel continuing its attacks on Iran, Lebanon and the Gaza Strip. Iran is responding with attacks on Israel, and American assets in Persian Gulf countries. Iran has however, opened the Strait of Hormuz to ships from Greece, India and China.

In response to US President Donald Trump’s claim that the war had already been won, a senior Iranian military official reminding the US Commander-in-chief that wars are won on the battle-field and not on social media. The official went on to say that American and Israeli forces clearly had no appetite to set foot on the battle-field.

For his part Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz says Israel was shooting down Iranian missiles with a high level of success and its attacks were producing results: "The IDF continues to operate in Iran with great intensity, targeting regime assets, suppressing missile launch capabilities, and destroying key strategic infrastructure in all areas, setting Iran back decades."

Commenting on the possibility of a ceasefire, the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran Abbas Araghchi, made it clear once again that while Iran did not want the war in the first place, it will not hesitate to defend itself: "When we say we don't want a ceasefire, it's not because we want to continue the war. It's because this time the war must end in a way that the enemies never think of repeating the attack. I believe they have learned and understood what kind of country they are facing, a country that will not hesitate to defend its own security and is ready to continue to do so at any cost."

Iran’s decision to block the Strait of Hormuz continues to wreak havoc on oil prices and global markets. President Trump’s recent call to other countries to send their warships to the Strait of Hormuz to help secure the critical waterway, has so far fallen on deaf ears, with none willing to join in a wider war.

In the meantime, President Trump has announced that he has requested a postponement of his planned meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. The meeting is currently set to take place between March 31st and April 2nd: "We're speaking to China. I'd love to (go) but because of the war I want to be here - I have to be here, I feel. So we've requested that we delay it month or so. I'm looking forward to being with him, we have a very good relationship. But, because of the war (…). There's no tricks to it either. It's not like, oh geez, I'm waiting. It's very simple; we've got a war going on and I think it's important that I be here."

Commenting on his plans after the war in Iran, President Trump said he believed he would have the honor of taking Cuba: "All my life I've been hearing about the United States and Cuba; when will the United States do it? I do believe I'll be having the honor of taking Cuba. That'd be a big honor. Taking Cuba, in some form. I mean whether I free it, take it (...) I think I can do anything I want with it if you want to know the truth."

Source: HRT