New Delhi, March 23 -- Donald trump's strategy in Iran is like the weather in his home state of Florida: if you don't like it, then wait for five minutes. On Friday the president said America's war might soon be "winding down". Its military goals had largely been met, he said, and he seemed untroubled by Iran's ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz since America did not "use" the waterway.

His conciliatory tone lasted only until Saturday. Then he gave Iran a 48-hour deadline to reopen the strait: if it did not comply, he warned that "America will hit and obliterate their various power plants, starting with the biggest one first." So much for winding down.

Mr Trump's defenders insist that his rhetorical gymnastics are part of the plan:...