Iran sees strategic advantage, Trump seeks to avoid more war, former Israeli security official says
Avner Vilan said Tehran believes its control of the Strait of Hormuz and ability to survive heavy damage would allow it to keep pressuring the region even after US strikes.
Iranian officials believe they hold a strategic advantage due to the United States' efforts to prevent a wider conflict, according to former senior Israeli security official Avner Vilan. Vilan claims Iran's control of the Strait of Hormuz, coupled with Trump's reluctance to enter another major war, has led Tehran to take greater risks.
The Iranian regime appears prepared to endure damage, even if infrastructure is lost and the economy is severely impacted, as long as the regime remains intact. Vilan suggests that the strategic outcome hinges on which side faces the greater pressure to negotiate a settlement. Meanwhile, a Wall Street Journal editorial has criticized Trump's recent decision to temporarily halt military escalation in the Persian Gulf, despite reports suggesting he is leaning towards a more aggressive response.
The editorial claims that Iran may be dictating the pace of escalation, based on statements from Saudi Arabia that the kingdom's oil facilities could be at risk of attack.
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