Opinion | ‘Trying and Failing’ in Iran

We are currently trying and failing to permanently reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and absent a strategy to do that, it seems like Iran, a second-tier power, not a great power rival, is pretty effectively holding us off. I wouldn’t say it’s failing. I mean, first of all, we’re in the situation. No, it’s not over yet. And also, I think it’s showing the danger of Iran that it is willing to do this. And the United States and the president are taking action, obviously, in our benefit, but also for the benefit of others who could contribute more in this kind of situation, including diplomatically, by putting pressure on Iran. I don’t think it’s a sustainable situation for Iran to essentially be holding hostage and violating expansive international law. It’s clearly, it’s clearly not a sustainable situation. Who gets to decide how it actually resolves itself seems to be a big deal for generally how much trust people have in America’s war- making capacity, our power projection capacity. Like, if this ends with a deal that is worse for the U.S. than whatever was sketched out in the M.O.U., then doesn’t it seem like countries around the world look at that and say, well, the U.S. is in a pretty weak position? I mean, I don’t accept the premise. I mean, I think people have to give some time for this strategy to work out. And part of that is military force, which we’re applying effectively. Part of that is the diplomatic international pressure, the economic pressure on Iran, the restoration of sanctions. I mean, we’ve been bombing Iran. We’ve been imposing sanctions on Iran. And yes, I agree, it’s been however long it’s been, four or five months. Who knows what it will look like in a year? But