‘The biggest strategic defeat suffered by the US’: TACO Trump backs down, Iran in better position than before war

Life comes at you fast. One minute, you’re Death, the Destroyer of Worlds, threatening that a “whole civilization will die tonight”. The next? You’re scurrying away with your tail between your legs, insisting that giving in to your enemy’s demands is actually a historic victory.

Such is the case of Donald Trump and Iran, with the “TACO” (Trump Always Chickens Out) insult now destined to stick around permanently.

Backed into a corner (and after apparently threatening nuclear armageddon), Trump has agreed to a provisional ceasefire with Iran. Taking to Truth Social, he insisted that the United States and Israel have “already met and exceeded all Military objectives” in Iran. Uh-huh, sure you have. Are these achieved military objectives in the room with us right now?

Trump also revealed that:

“We received a 10 point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate. Almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to between the United States and Iran.”

So, what are those ten points?

1. A guarantee that Iran will not be attacked again
2. A permanent end to the war, not just a ceasefire
3. An end to Israeli strikes in Lebanon and against Iranian allies
4. The lifting of all US sanctions on Iran
5. Iran agreeing to reopen the Strait of Hormuz
6. Introduction of a $2 million fee per ship transiting Hormuz
7. Revenue from shipping fees to be shared with Oman
8. Funds to be used for reconstruction of war-damaged infrastructure
9. Establishment of safe passage protocols through Hormuz
10. A broader framework to end regional hostilities

So, essentially, Christmas has come early for Iran, who appear as if they’re going to be in a better position than before the war! Trump can claim a “victory” in that the Strait of Hormuz will be open to ships… just like it was before the war. Only now Iran and Oman get to charge every ship $2 million.

How is this not the most humiliating military failure in US history? We didn’t accomplish any goals, we failed to stop a regional power from effectively stopping maritime trade, we had to ask China to even get that country to accept our ceasefire offer?

— Ben Dreyfuss (@bendreyfuss) April 8, 2026

There were approximately 135 ships per day passing through the Strait of Hormuz before the war for free. If Iran and Oman can now charge each ship $2 million, that adds up to $270 million per day, or around $100 billion per year. Even if the money is split between Iran and Oman, that means a boost to the Iranian economy of $50 billion per year, potentially raising Iran’s GDP by around 8%!

That, on top of absolutely no mention of Iran ceasing nuclear research, and a binding on Israel to stop attacking Lebanon, has left Trump’s war-hawk MAGA allies horrified and Israelis despondent.

Humiliation on the world stage

NYT: The Iranian 10-point proposal includes a lifting of ALL sanctions placed on Iran by every American administration since the George W. Bush administration.

WOW

— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) April 7, 2026

It is, inarguably, a colossal humiliation for the United States on the world stage, with the general consensus that this means the war is a “strategic defeat”:

“This is the biggest strategic defeat suffered by the US since its emergence as a superpower.”

This is Iran's 10 point plan – which Trump has accepted as "a workable basis on which to negotiate."

Have no doubt:

This is the biggest strategic defeat suffered by the US since its emergence as a superpower. https://t.co/5pplRm40NI pic.twitter.com/B3b0Gn66L1

— Owen Jones (@owenjonesjourno) April 7, 2026

If there’s a silver lining for regular Americans, it’s that gas prices should begin to come down now. However, given the damage to key Iranian energy infrastructure, it could be a year or so before they return to pre-war levels.

Trump will bluster and bloviate that this is a triumph for him, but the facts don’t lie. Billions of dollars have gone up in smoke. Iran still possesses the ability to make nuclear weapons and enriched uranium. Iran now has a tighter (and more lucrative) control of the Strait of Hormuz.

And as for regime change? Well, Ayatollah Khamenei is indeed gone! So let’s all welcome the new boss! Hi, Ayatollah Khamenei!