Trump’s Latest Blunder: Confuses ‘Pak and Iran’ While Repeating India Ceasefire Claim | PRIMENEWSNOW

Trump’s Tariff Gaffe: A Misstep in Diplomacy

In a recent address, former US President Donald Trump intended to highlight his use of tariffs as a diplomatic tool to prevent conflict between India and Pakistan. However, he mistakenly referred to India as “Iran,” creating a stir.

The Role of Tariffs in National Security

Addressing a question on tariffs, Trump emphasized their significance for US national security. He aimed to illustrate this by citing his threat of a 200% tariff on India and Pakistan, which he claims averted a potential war between the two nuclear-armed nations.

However, his statement took an unexpected turn: “As an example, if you look at Pakistan and Iran. I was in the midst of negotiating a trade deal with, actually, with Iran, and Pakistan was going to be in line. And because of tariffs, they all want to negotiate much differently. We’ll make it a good deal. And then I heard they’re shooting at each other, and I said during one of my conversations, ‘Are you guys going to go to war?’ Two nuclear powers we are thinking about.”

This slip-up quickly went viral on social media platforms.

Trump’s Tariff Threat

Trump recounted how he threatened a “200 per cent tariff” to halt business with the US, claiming it ended the conflict within 24 hours, preventing a nuclear war.

Clarifications and Reactions

The error was particularly glaring as Iran is not a nuclear power. Trump referenced Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recent visit to the White House, where Sharif reportedly praised Trump for averting war, saying, “That man saved many millions of lives.”

Trump further explained, “But when it came to war or having to pay massive tariffs, the tariffs overrode. That’s why it’s so important.” He emphasized that tariffs not only generate revenue but also serve as a powerful tool for peace.

India’s Perspective on the Ceasefire

Despite Trump’s repeated claims of having “stopped” the India-Pakistan conflict, India has consistently denied any third-party involvement in the ceasefire agreement following Operation Sindoor.

India maintains that the ceasefire was a result of direct negotiations between the military operations directors of both countries, without any external influence.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar reiterated in July that the ceasefire was achieved through military dialogue, not trade discussions as Trump suggested.

During a Lok Sabha debate on Operation Sindoor, Jaishankar clarified that no communication occurred between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Trump during the specified period.

Operation Sindoor was a response to a terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, which resulted in 26 casualties.

Jaishankar stated, “I want to make two things very clear. One, at no stage in any conversation with the United States was there any linkage with trade and what was going on.”

Prime Minister Modi also affirmed, “No leader in the world asked India to stop military action.”