Samuel Ramani: Trump can stop the war now. He’s already won

'While the US’s next steps remain unclear, Trump could end the war today and credibly claim victory. Although the Islamic Republic remains in place, its grip on power has eroded and Iran’s military capabilities have been severely degraded. After years of one-sided nuclear negotiations and passivity in the face of Iranian regime repression, Trump has restored deterrence and asserted American power in a way that will resonate with other adversaries.'

Dr Samuel Ramani wrote this in the Daily Telegraph on 10 March 2026 when it was already clear to people who listened to Max Blumenthal, Professor Marandi or Douglas Macgregor that it was very wrong. 

Almost the whole of Iran is now united, the government was not so strong for decades and American power is at last in what could be steep decline. 

These things are surprising but clear and it is also surprising but clear to most people that American decline is a consummation devoutly to be wished.

"After years of one-sided nuclear negotiations" - Obama's nuclear deal was a good one and Trump tore it up saying he could get a better one and couldn't. 

"And PASSIVITY in the face of Iranian regime repression" - what business is it of America's on the other side of the world - or any foreign country - to be active if the Iranian government represses Iranians? 

Hezbollah is not passive when Israel attacks Lebanon - they fight, which is their business since they are Lebanese and is within international law - but people in high places in London call them terrorists.

Dr Ramani continues to spill out propaganda about Iran and Russia. 

He teaches Politics and International Relations at the University of Oxford, is an associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute and he contributes regularly to The Washington Post, the BBC World Service, Al Jazeera and CNN.

People who have power take this man seriously. 

The future elite at Oxford do. 

Everything else at Oxford is woke but Politics and International Relations sounds as if it is taught from the point of view of Anglo-American governments. 

But this is not in fact as contradictory as it sounds at first - the Anglo-American empire is woke. 

The head of MI6 complains about lack of LGBQ rights in Russia.

Woke is what we are if not fighting then paying Ukrainians to fight for 

Please stop reading the Daily Telegraph or Washington Post or believing the BBC or CNN, if you do.

Al Jazeera is better by some way but equally biassed against Iran, the Houthis and the Shia.