Chris Hedges: Why the Ceasefire is Doomed

For decades Chris Hedges has been spot on in his assessments, predictions, warnings, and expertise in understanding the shadow side of our nation, the wealthy and greed soaked individual and corporate interests embedded in both major political parties and the mainstream American media, and the imperialism, Christian nationalism, and white supremacy embodied in the systems of power dominating the policies and practices of the United States. When Chris speaks, I listen. As, I believe, should we all. — Molly

Rescue team works at a damaged building in the Barbour neighborhood of Beirut, Lebanon, on April 8, 2026, after an Israeli strike. Rescuers at the scene said at least six people were killed and others remained missing. (Photo by Nael Chahine / Middle East Images / AFP via Getty Images)

By Chris Hedges

It is highly unlikely, unfortunately, that the ceasefire agreement brokered by Pakistan will endure. This is due to two principal impediments.

First, Israel is adamantly opposed to a cessation of the bombing of Iran’s infrastructure. This bombing campaign is part of the Israeli effort to turn Iran into a failed state. Israel has the ability to sabotage the agreement. Indeed, Israel is already doing so by refusing to halt its attacks on Lebanon.

Secondly, the minimal demands being made by Iran remain unacceptable to the U.S. and Israel. The demands will only be achieved by creating more pressure, which Iran can generate by continuing to block oil and gas shipments through the Strait of Hormuz and targeting vital infrastructure in the region.

Iran is demanding a permanent and formalized end to hostilities, control of the Strait of Hormuz, an end to Israeli attacks in Lebanon, a withdrawal of U.S. military bases in the region, reparations for war damage, the right to carry out nuclear enrichment and the lifting of all sanctions on Iran.

I don’t see Iran backing down on these demands, especially as it has the ability to force the U.S. through prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz to concede. This means more war and a strangulation of the global economy.

This is Iran’s war to win. And the Iranian regime knows it.

Please go here for the original article: https://chrishedges.substack.com/p/why-the-ceasefire-is-doomed

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Chris Hedges is an American journalist, author, commentator and Presbyterian minister. In his early career, Hedges worked as a freelance war correspondent in Central America for The Christian Science Monitor, NPR, and The Dallas Morning News. Hedges reported for The New York Times from 1990 to 2005,^[1] and served as the Times Middle East Bureau Chief and Balkan Bureau Chief during the wars in the former Yugoslavia. In 2001, Hedges contributed to The New York Times staff entry that received the 2002 Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Reporting for the paper's coverage of global terrorism. Hedges produced a weekly column for Truthdig for 14 years until the outlet's hiatus in 2020. His books include War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning (2002), a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award for Nonfiction; American Fascists: The Christian Right and the War on America (2007); Death of the Liberal Class (2010); and Days of Destruction, Days of Revolt (2012), written with cartoonist Joe Sacco. Hedges writes a weekly column at Scheerpost and hosts the program The Chris Hedges Report.

I highly recommend the work of Chris Hedges to everyone.