America went to war over Tehran's nuclear program, yet months later, U.S Tomahawks are hitting Iranian islands because Washington still can’t force open the Strait of Hormuz.
Military analyst Elijah Magnier says Trump has ended up exactly where Iran wants him.
The nuclear program has disappeared from the negotiations, so has Iran’s missile program, and even its support for regional allies is no longer the immediate issue.
The fight has come down to something much more fundamental: who controls safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
And Elijah argues that's a fight Iran is uniquely equipped to drag out.
America can bomb radars, launchers and facilities along Iran’s coast, and it can clear mines and escort tankers.
But Iran only needs a few drones, missiles or mines to demonstrate that Washington still cannot guarantee safe navigation.
Every time America declares the Strait secure, Tehran gets another opportunity to prove it isn't.
Now Trump is reportedly considering periodic strikes, but what will that achieve?
Iran already considers itself at war, so more bombing gives Tehran another opportunity to retaliate, disrupt shipping and keep the economic and political cost rising.
Unless those bombs can reopen Hormuz and force Tehran to concede, Trump isn't demonstrating that he has an answer.
He's showing that he's run out of them.
@ejmalrai
