SAEDNEWS: Hossein Shariatmadari, editor-in-chief of Kayhan, called on Iran to leave the Geneva negotiations, dismissing Donald Trump's Strait of Hormuz threats as a political bluff and a sign of U.S. fear of failure against Iran.
According to Saed News Agency's Political Desk, while negotiations between Iran and the United States are ongoing in Geneva, recent remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump in an interview with Fox News, including explicit threats against Iran, have drawn a sharp response from Hossein Shariatmadari, the editor-in-chief of the Iranian newspaper Kayhan.
In his recent interview with Fox News, Trump warned that Iran would face severe consequences if the Strait of Hormuz were closed. He also called on Tehran to immediately halt the activities of resistance groups in the region.
In a commentary, Shariatmadari dismissed these statements as mere “bluster,” arguing that the threats reflect Trump’s fear of failure in confronting Iran. According to him, the U.S. president is attempting to compensate for setbacks on the ground through rhetoric and posturing at the negotiating table.
One of the most notable aspects of Shariatmadari’s article was his use of a metaphor to describe Trump’s political behavior. He likened the U.S. president’s mannerisms and political posture to the way penguins walk in Antarctica, highlighting the following characteristics:
Empty posturing: Despite their limited physical strength, penguins hold their wings away from their bodies, resembling individuals who try to appear tough and intimidating.
False display of power: They walk as though they have defeated fierce predators, even though they possess little real power.
Repeated bluffing: Shariatmadari argued that Trump’s frequent boasts and daily threats closely resemble these theatrical gestures, lacking genuine substance or backing.
In the final section of his commentary, Shariatmadari advised Iran’s negotiating team in Geneva to respond firmly to such rhetoric. In his view, the minimum appropriate response would be to humiliate the opposing side by leaving the negotiating table.
Emphasizing the need to preserve the dignity of the Iranian delegation in the face of what he described as Washington’s excessive demands, he further stated that even if negotiations continue, the issue of retaliation for the assassination of General Qassem Soleimani remains unresolved and that those responsible will never escape accountability.
