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Iran war unresolved 'because of Trump’s mistake': Expert warns US, Israel must return to fighting

From Jerusalem Post · (7m ago) English Critical tone

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • An expert warns that Iran's leadership is exhibiting excessive confidence ('hubris'), which prevents them from accepting negotiations despite their disadvantageous position.
  • The expert suggests that renewed military strikes by the US and Israel are necessary to compel Iran to negotiate.
  • The current situation is described as a temporary phase where religious rule has devolved into military rule, making it worse than before.

The current stalemate with Iran is a direct consequence of the regime's "overflowing hubris," according to Beni Sabti, an Iran researcher at the INSS. Sabti argues that Iran's leadership, despite facing disadvantages, remains unwilling to engage in genuine negotiations. He posits that the only effective way to force the regime's hand is through a return to decisive military action by the United States and Israel, asserting that all diplomatic avenues have been exhausted.

The Iranian hubris is overflowing.

— Beni SabtiDescribing the Iranian leadership's overconfidence as a barrier to negotiations.

Sabti criticizes the current Iranian leadership, characterizing them as "evil people who have completely seized power." He views the current state as a dangerous evolution where religious rule has morphed into a more oppressive military rule. The researcher dismisses the focus on enriched uranium as the primary driver of Iran's nuclear ambitions, stating that "people will make the bomb," implying that the human element and the regime's intentions are the core issue.

They do not understand the hint. In the end, missiles do not fire themselves, and a nuclear program does not fire itself. These are evil people who have completely seized power.

— Beni SabtiExplaining why Iran is unlikely to negotiate without external pressure and characterizing the regime.

Furthermore, Sabti attributes the current predicament, in part, to "Trump's mistake," suggesting that the former US president's pursuit of dialogue created an opening for Iran's continued defiance. He analyzes Iran's recent strikes on the UAE and Oman not as unprovoked aggression, but as a predictable response to feeling threatened, likening the regime's actions to a virus attacking a weakened host. Sabti emphasizes that Iran strategically targets weaker players, particularly those whose defense relies on the US, and avoids direct confrontation with Israel due to its known retaliatory strength.

If the current Iranian leadership were not in office today, and Trump were not looking for someone to talk to, we would be in a better situation today. Because of Trump’s mistake, we will be in another round and another round.

— Beni SabtiAttributing the current impasse partly to past US policy decisions under the Trump administration.
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Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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