[Foreign Affairs]: America’s War With Iran.

What Comes After U.S. Strikes. By Ilan Goldenberg, June 22, 2025

https://www.foreignaffairs.com/middle-east/americas-war-iran

#iran

America’s War With Iran

What comes after U.S. strikes.

Foreign Affairs
2. Foreign Affairs, Ilan Goldenberg:
‘Iran’s other significant retaliatory capability is its fleet of small boats, which when dispersed are difficult to defeat and could start dropping mines in the Strait of Hormuz or attempting suicide bombing attacks against U.S. ships. This course of action could block roughly one third of the world’s oil trade, causing a spike in prices that could set off a global recession.
3. ‘If Iran were to go down this path, only the U.S. Navy could reopen the Strait of Hormuz and a significant naval war would ensue, with U.S. ships and planes battling Iranian ships and coastal defenses.’
4. ‘Given the number of variables, however, much will depend on the wisdom and restraint of Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khameini, and the people around them. And that does not bode well in the short or long term.’
5. ‘[Iran] is a country of 90 million people. Its government is likely to be much more resilient. The more likely scenario is akin to what happened to Saddam Hussein’s Iraq after the first Gulf War. What will be left in Iran is a weakened regime, but one that is more radicalized, hostile to the United States, and willing to take risks.’
6. ‘As evident in Gaza, in Ukraine, and during the first Iran-Iraq war, it’s much easier to start a war than to end one. ‘
7. ‘..the track record of American military interventions in the Middle East and the nature of war over human history shows that American involvement comes with tremendous risk. The best and most durable option for the United States all along was to pursue a diplomatic deal that verifiably restrained Iran’s nuclear program. Unfortunately, after the events of today, that option is much less likely.’
@jackhutton Dear gog. Wisdom and restraint of any of those lunatics is the faintest of hopes.
@jackhutton I can't even read these people's actual words without bile rising in my throat

@jackhutton

"much will depend on the wisdom and restraint of Trump"

Hahahaha ha haha hahaha hahahaha hahaha hahahaha ha haha ha ha ...
[stops for a breath] ... haha hah hahahahaha ha haha hahaha hahaha haha...

@jackhutton
A case can be made that the closing of the Strait of Hormuz would be a climate action so there is that at least.