The Islamic Republic of Iran has “cornered” itself in its conflict with the United States, according to one expert.
“The Islamic Republic really has no option. It has cornered itself,” said Hooshang Amirahmadi, president of the American Iranian Council and former Iranian presidential candidate.
“It cannot win a war with the U.S.,” he said. “So it really is in no strategic situation — it doesn't know what to do.”
“Neither a political solution, nor a military one,” Amirahmadi continued.
Tuesday evening saw the Islamic Republic send missiles to hit military bases in Iraq housing American soldiers. Despite Iranian reports, both the United States and Iraq have said that there were no casualties.
In his remarks Wednesday morning, President Trump said that only minimal damage was sustained at military bases.
“Iran appears to be standing down, which is a good thing for all parties concerned,” the president said.
Amirahmadi says that for “this round of conflict,” that Iran has “finished what it had to do.”
“It had to take so-called revenge for the assassination of General Soleimani,” he explained.
But, Amirahmadi said, Iran just had to show destruction and “destroyed buildings to the Iranians.”
“I believe it’s more like a ploy,” he said. “It is more like a public relation struggle here. The Iranians are trying to make it as if they were successful.”
Trump didn’t outline what further military action would be taken against Iran if any, but did say that more economic sanctions would be levied against the Islamic Republic.
“These powerful sanctions will remain until Iran changes its behavior,” the president said.
Amirahmadi said that with additional sanctions, the regime will be in “serious financial trouble,” saying they’d be “crippling.”
“I believe their main source of income now has become taxes on the people,” he explained. “But in an economy that is in recession, with unemployment around 30-some percent, and inflation over 40%, that economy can't really provide enough tax to the government to do its business.”
While Amirahmadi doesn’t see Iran coming to the negotiating table anytime soon, the president has opened the door to a deal with Iran.
Addressing Iranian leaders in his remarks, Trump said “the United States is ready to embrace peace for all who seek it.”
Kristin Myers is a reporter at Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter.
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