Trita Parsi on why US air strikes strengthened Iran’s hand and failed to trigger a revolt

Trita Parsi, co-founder and executive vice-president of the Quincy Institute, weighs in on the US economic sanctions against Iran and the potential for conflict. He contends that Trump's "economic D-Day" sanctions are unlikely to weaken Iran significantly and are more likely to provoke a counter-escalation from Tehran. These sanctions will not force Iran to surrender, but rather trigger another escalating cycle.

Regarding the US-Israel war on Iran, the Strait of Hormuz, and the proposed Oman-Iran deal, Parsi sees no end in sight to the current escalation. Trust between the two sides is at an all-time low, and there is little optimism for positive developments. The prospect of the Strait of Hormuz reopening is slim, though limited traffic may resume as both Iran and the US have a need for it.

Despite the war's failure to benefit the United States, Iran's influence in the region has increased, as it has demonstrated resilience against a nuclear-armed adversary. However, the Iranian population cannot tolerate a prolonged conflict, and internal dissent may arise if the government appears unable to resolve the situation.