Iran seeks to outlast US and Israel in war of endurance, analyst says

Ali Vaez, director of the Iran Project at the International Crisis Group, told Al Jazeera that Iran is playing a "game of endurance" in the war, aiming to outlast the US and Israel by taking the global economy hostage through pressure on the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf economies—an objective in which it appears to be succeeding. He noted President Trump sounds "exceedingly desperate" and is escalating, but the longer the war continues, the costlier and riskier it becomes for both sides without bringing them closer to their goals. Vaez described the US strike on Iran's Kharg Island oil export hub as a significant signal that Washington may target energy infrastructure, but warned Iran can retaliate in kind against Gulf states, potentially pushing oil above $200 a barrel and triggering a global economic meltdown with severe political consequences for Trump in an election year. He suggested the US might seek a "big win" to justify ending the war—such as retrieving enriched uranium, deploying forces to Gulf islands, or targeting the new supreme leader—but doubted either side could gain the upper hand, urging a ceasefire as the best outcome for all. Subscribe to our channel: http://bit.ly/AJSubscribe Follow us on X: https://X.com/AJEnglish Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera Check our website: http://www.aljazeera.com/ Check out our Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/aljazeeraenglish/ Download AJE Mobile App: https://aje.news/AJEMobile #Iran #DonaldTrump #StraitOfHormuz #IRGC #IranWar #USIsraelWarOnIran #IranGulfAttacks #IranMissiles #GlobalOilCrisis #OperationEpicFury #OperationTruePromise4