Watch | Iran has ‘stumped Trump for now’ amid mixed signals on de-escalation: Author Ray Locker

On the 25th day of the West Asia war, author and journalist Ray Locker said Iran has “stumped Donald Trump for now”, pointing to a lack of clarity in Washington’s approach even as global markets reel from rising oil prices and volatility.

Speaking to CNBC-TV18, Locker said, “I don’t think Trump ever had a coherent plan to begin with,” adding that “no clear objectives were stated at the beginning” and there is little visibility on an exit strategy. His remarks come amid conflicting claims on de-escalation, with Tehran rejecting US assertions of talks even as strikes continue across the region.

The prolonged conflict has pushed crude prices back above $100 per barrel, weighed on equities in the US and Europe, and heightened concerns over supply disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. Locker noted that multiple countries are now engaged in backchannel efforts, including Pakistan and India, to contain the crisis.

“If it leads to an end of fighting, that’s a good thing,” he said, even as he underscored growing unease in the US over economic pressures, with higher fuel and electricity costs and falling stock markets adding to public discontent.