At 5:22 a.m. on Thursday, President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that the United States would hit Iran “VERY HARD TONIGHT.” Less than 90 minutes later came a second post: Over 100 million barrels of oil had passed through the Strait of Hormuz under American control, not Iranian. Then a third, within the same hour: The scheduled strikes were cancelled. High-level discussions had produced agreement. The naval blockade would remain. A signing ceremony was pending.

Three posts. Ninety minutes. Escalation, victory declaration, de-escalation.