A grateful world sang the praises of Donald Trump on Monday, after the FIFA Peace Prize recipient brought amity to the Mideast for a second time in nine months.

Among those most grateful to Trump for ending America’s three-and-a-half-month, four-week war with Iran: The man who started it.

“Many presidents have tried to make Peace with Iran, and all have failed before me,” Trump declared, patting himself on the back. “The Leaders of the Region have, for the first time, found a President who can help them achieve real Peace.”

Some regional governments might quibble with that characterization. Never before have Iranian drones and missiles so frequently breached their air space on the way to damaging critical infrastructure.

The Gulf monarchies might also harbor some resentment towards Trump for undermining their reputations as safe havens for international capital, to say nothing of his role in impeding the flow of regional cash “crops” to global markets.

But that’s all water under the bridge now. Says Trump. “I hereby fully authorize the toll-free opening of the Strait of Hormuz, and, simultaneously herewith, authorize the immediate removal of the United States Naval blockade,” he carried on, in one of two social media posts where the decorous language of monarchical edicts felt right at home alongside the juvenile proclamations of a child playing at king. “Ships of the World, start your engines. Let the oil flow!”

Go ahead. Roll your eyes. Then squeeze them shut in an incredulous wince. You won’t be alone in marveling at Trump’s latest feat of unfathomable callowness.

I can assure you everyone involved in these discussions, including many of his own aides and advisers, are no less astounded now, in 2026, a decade on from his rise to power, than they were during his first term, at Trump’s total obliviousness to the outward absurdity of his own theatrics.

As expected, the “deal” extends the ceasefire for 60 days, during which the two sides will debate the future of the Iranian nuclear program. In the meantime, the Strait will be passable.

Brent fell to a multi-month low and looked poised to slip below $80 for the first time since the onset of open hostilities.

Shehbaz Sharif told local lawmakers that Pakistan will host a signing ceremony for the US-Iran MOU on Friday in Geneva, where Iranian and American envoys, including JD Vance, may commence the first round of discussions aimed at achieving a final accord.

Frankly, it doesn’t sound like anything was resolved in the MOU, which appears to be little more than an agreement to “let the oil flow,” as Trump put it.

There was no evidence Monday to suggest the regime in Tehran made any concessions whatever regarding their nuclear or missile programs nor, for that matter, anything else.

Despite nonspecific claims to the contrary from both sides, the inescapable fact is that neither Hezbollah nor Israel is a party to the MOU. And the IDF’s still bombing Lebanon. That means this détente’s effectively hostage to the Israeli right.

During a half-hour phone call with The New York Times, Trump described Benjamin Netanyahu as “a very difficult guy. “To be honest with you, he should be very thankful to us,” Trump said. “Because if Iran had a nuclear weapon, Israel wouldn’t be around for two hours.”