David Hearst, editor-in-chief of Middle East Eye, says that even if US President Donald Trump attacks Iran again, it is now clear the US has lost another war in West Asia. He says Iran holds the key cards, especially the Strait of Hormuz and the deterrence created by its drones and missiles, while Trump has none.
Hearst says that Trump attacked Iran on false intelligence supplied by Mossad and accepted against the advice of his own intelligence community.
Netanyahu, he adds, convinced Trump that Iran’s leadership would collapse after one final push, but the Islamic Republic survived and the regional balance of power has changed.
He says a crushed Iran would have crowned Trump as the king of a new regional order, with Netanyahu as his partner.
Instead, Iran’s survival has strengthened a new alignment involving Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Turkey, Qatar and Oman, while exposing the limits of the US military umbrella in the Gulf.
- Sign up for Aliran's free daily email updates or weekly newsletters or both
- Make a one-off donation to Persatuan Aliran Kesedaran Negara (ALIRAN), Maybank a/c 507246118995 or CIMB a/c 8004240948
- Make a pledge or schedule an auto donation to Aliran every month or every quarter
- Become an Aliran member
Hearst says that Iran has re-established its deterrence over the region’s oil and gas producers and will not surrender its control over Hormuz again. Even after losing conventional forces, its drones, missiles, small boats and naval mines remain a serious power.
He concludes that Iran’s resistance sends a clear message across the Arab world, that with enough determination and a high enough pain threshold, West Asia can resist US and Israeli domination. Neither Trump nor Netanyahu, he adds, can claim anything other than defeat by the Islamic Republic.
Produced by: Middle East Eye
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
