The US has been slicing off pieces of the Strait of Hormuz control quietly — pushing ships through without transponders, setting up its own corridor. Each move is small enough that any Iranian pushback looks like overreaction. That's the whole point.
Iran won't let things roll back to pre-war normal. Same pattern as Russia in Ukraine. No reset button. That's why both conflicts keep ratcheting up.
Every missile burned in the Middle East was supposed to be saved for China. Russia and China both see it. US military capacity getting chewed up in Iran is a strategic win for them.
Will Iran fold? Doubt it. The hardliners who said the deal was never real already got vindicated. Next time they'll have way more say.
Iran won't let things roll back to pre-war normal. Same pattern as Russia in Ukraine. No reset button. That's why both conflicts keep ratcheting up.
Every missile burned in the Middle East was supposed to be saved for China. Russia and China both see it. US military capacity getting chewed up in Iran is a strategic win for them.
Will Iran fold? Doubt it. The hardliners who said the deal was never real already got vindicated. Next time they'll have way more say.