American Scholar: Negotiations Reveal Iran’s Upper Hand in Recent US-Iran Crisis
John Mearsheimer, an American scholar, stated that in the recent crisis between the United States and Iran, no effective military option existed, and ultimately, negotiations prevailed over other solutions. He emphasized that given the course of events, Iran has secured a superior position, forcing the American side to make concessions.
According to Mehr News Agency, Mearsheimer pointed out that there was no effective military option available to resolve the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz; similarly, military measures failed to stop missile attacks against Iran. In his view, this situation demonstrates that military tools have been unable to achieve the desired objectives.
The American scholar referred to US President Donald Trump’s proposal, noting that the naval blockade of Iran was initiated with hopes of achieving tangible results. However, he believes that even supporters of this plan acknowledged that if effective, its outcomes would take time to materialize; a factor that did not favor Washington.
Mearsheimer added that these assessments indicate the blockade was not as fruitful as expected, and American decision-makers were compelled to turn to negotiations to expedite developments. He concluded that under these circumstances, reaching an agreement was the only viable option left.
In closing, he stressed that if the negotiations lead to a deal, it means Iran has maintained the upper hand in this confrontation; because, as he stated, the US government had to make significant concessions to achieve an agreement.
