Iran issues a humiliating ultimatum to Washington! This time, it's quite satisfying.
On March 25, 2026, Tehran released an unusual statement that felt less like a 'statement' and more like a direct bill.
The Iranian Supreme National Security Council presented three sets of numbers to Washington through diplomatic channels:
First, US military bases in the Persian Gulf and surrounding areas must close;
Second, any Western merchant ship entering the Strait of Hormuz must pay a 'security toll' of $2 million each;
Third, for the damages caused by sanctions, interference, and assassinations over the past forty years, pay $100 billion, not a cent less. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani confirmed each point at a press conference.
What’s even more interesting is the timing; just the day before, the US had handed over a so-called 15-item 'ceasefire proposal' through Pakistan. The content sounded familiar: Iran must hand over its uranium enrichment capabilities, dismantle nuclear facilities, cut missile programs, sever ties with regional allies...
Although it was called ceasefire conditions, it resembled a rather courteous 'surrender document.' Meanwhile, US amphibious assault ships, the 82nd Airborne Division, and thousands of troops were rushing to the Middle East, with the timing still caught around Trump’s '48-hour ultimatum.' While calling for 'talks,' they were simultaneously pushing troops forward; Iran has seen this tactic many times before.
Therefore, this time Iran simply refused to answer the questions posed by the US. It did not accept the 15 conditions nor did it negotiate point by point; instead, it flipped the table back to its side: don’t talk to me about what you want; first, show me the clear accounts of the past forty years.
Since the outbreak of the US-Israel-Iran conflict, merchant ships daring to traverse the Strait have become increasingly rare. Now, those that can navigate are only the vessels approved by Iran, following the northern route defined by Iran; in simple terms, who can pass and when depends entirely on Iran's mood.
The US used to claim it would 'ensure the security of the Strait,' but what about now? Its own aircraft carrier groups do not dare to approach easily, fearing being targeted by Iran’s anti-ship missiles and drones; the so-called 'maritime hegemony' has no face left in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran dares to collect a $2 million toll because it knows the West cannot do without this Strait and the oil of the Middle East. If you’re not convinced, there's nothing you can do; if you have the ability, don’t pass through here.
More critically, Iran’s military strength is no longer the easily manipulated state it was decades ago. Over the years, Iran has been quietly developing its capabilities. Its missile forces have already formed significant combat power; whether it is the 'Meteor' series missiles that cover all US bases in the Middle East or the 'Persian Gulf' anti-ship missiles that can accurately strike aircraft carriers, they can leave the US military in a difficult situation.
And Iran’s drones, with high cost-effectiveness and great power, have repeatedly achieved remarkable results on Middle Eastern battlefields, even accurately targeting advanced US equipment, let alone those Western merchant ships. Furthermore, Iran has a reliable group of allies in the Middle East, such as Hezbollah and the Houthi forces in Yemen, who can confront the US head-on. If the US dares to strike Iran, these allies will inevitably unite to attack; by then, US bases in the Middle East will only be named one by one, falling into a predicament surrounded by enemies.
In contrast, the US, though appearing aggressive, is already hollow, lacking the boldness it once had. The Trump administration shouts about a '48-hour ultimatum' while increasing troops in the Middle East, but anyone with eyes can see that this is just bluster.
US military operations in the Middle East have been ongoing for some time now, and the consumption rate of precision-guided weapons and cruise missiles has far exceeded expectations. Ammunition stockpiles are already nearing cautionary levels, military industry production capacity can't keep up with consumption, and frontline soldiers even have to conserve ammunition, with morale at an all-time low.
What’s more troubling is the domestic anti-war sentiment. Over fifty cities in the US have erupted into large-scale protests, with citizens filling the streets, shouting 'Stop the War in the Middle East,' condemning the Trump administration for waging war without congressional authorization, dragging the country into a quagmire.
Trump’s approval ratings have plummeted, and the pressure of the midterm elections is growing; he cannot afford a long-term war. Increasing troops is merely an attempt to bolster his image and force Iran to compromise.
What makes the US even more embarrassed is that its allies are all 'playing dead,' with no one willing to confront Iran alongside it. European allies have long seen through the situation, realizing that following the US will only drag them into a war quagmire. They have collectively refused to send more troops to the Middle East and are even privately contacting Iran to seek stable energy cooperation solutions, fearing that their economy will be ruined by war.
Middle Eastern allies like Saudi Arabia and the UAE, while receiving US military aid, have quietly signed energy cooperation agreements with China, using the yuan to settle oil transactions, completely freeing themselves from dependence on the dollar, and they do not want to be tied to the US war chariot any longer.
The US originally wanted to pressure Iran alongside its allies, but in the end, it found itself isolated, with the so-called 'ally system' collapsing under the weight of interests.
Iran's ultimatum this time is, to put it bluntly, a naked humiliation and a precise counterattack. It does not engage in the 'conditional negotiation' game with the US; rather, it directly flips the table, laying out the US's forty years of hegemonic misdeeds on the table, demanding repayment, troop withdrawal, and control handover; each point strikes at America's soft underbelly.
The US used to enjoy issuing ultimatums to other countries, often using sanctions and military threats against others; now it’s its turn to receive an ultimatum, and such humiliating conditions at that. The frustration and helplessness of this situation can only be truly understood by the US itself.
Some say that Iran's actions are too risky, and they are not afraid of the US acting out of desperation? In fact, Iran has long calculated that the US does not dare to take real action.
If the US launches a full-scale war against Iran, Iran will undoubtedly completely block the Strait of Hormuz; by then, global oil prices will soar, the US economy will suffer further, and domestic anti-war sentiment will intensify. Trump's political career will also come to a complete end.
Moreover, Iran’s missiles can cover all US bases in the Middle East; if a real fight breaks out, the US military will only suffer heavy losses and gain nothing beneficial. What the US wants most now is to withdraw from the Middle East gracefully, not to launch another war with no chance of victory.