Trump Only Buying Time to Quietly Enter Hormuz And Trap Iran: Tehran Professor

Many X commentators are viewing US President Donald Trump’s latest decision to pause strikes on Iran as buying more time for the movement of more American naval assets toward the Strait of Hormuz and trapping the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Hassan Ahmadian, an associate professor at the University of Tehran, told Al-Jazeera that Trump may be really backing down on his warning to strike Iran’s power infrastructure. “But there is another scenario: him going for escalation, preparing his forces and his assets in the region to attack Iran heavier in five days. I think Iran is readying itself for both scenarios,” he explained.

The five-day pause officially applies to attacks on Iran’s energy infrastructure and comes at a critical moment in the war. Washington has framed the move as an opportunity for “productive conversations,” but Iran has denied that any talks are taking place so far.

Ahmadian acknowledged that countries are trying to channel messages between the two sides, but Tehran has denied having any talks with the United States. “So it can be either scenario,” he added.

Behind the scenes, other developments suggest the United States may be using the window to reposition forces in the Gulf. The USS Tripoli, an American-class amphibious assault ship carrying thousands of Marines, is among the key assets moving toward the region, where it is expected to increase US presence near Hormuz.

That is why the Strait of Hormuz remains central to the war. A significant share of global oil shipments passes through the narrow waterway, making it a strategic lever for Iran in any escalation. Securing the passage has been a key objective for Washington as tensions intensified.

The timing of the five-day pause has also had immediate economic effects. Global markets, rattled by weeks of the Gulf war, responded sharply, with US stocks rebounding and oil prices briefly crashing below $90 per barrel after the announcement.

Many X posters said the move offered temporary relief to investors concerned about prolonged instability in energy markets and rising geopolitical risk.

However, the pause does not signal a full de-escalation. US operations targeting Iran’s military and strategic assets are most likely expected to continue.

With naval deployments underway and tensions still high, the five-day window is being seen as just silence before the storm in the war, one that could shape the future of all Gulf countries in the coming weeks.