The point of this strike was to undermine moderates in internal Iranian politics, what other logic is there to it given the context of how Iran had been adhering to the nuclear deal set out and was showing no signs of desiring direct escalation?
The President has always been a limited role in Iran, playing second fiddle to the Supreme Leader, i.e. the Ayatollah. While he can say he wants peace and to not attack their gulf neighbours, it is doubtful the actual leadership and the revolutionary guard share his views nor will they listen to him.
It seems Irans best best of “winning” this war is to drag it out as long as possible, and cause as much regional damage as possible to undermine the Oil trade and damage the US and global economy.
I presume they expect to either way. What this would be designed to do is build resentment in those countries for the bombings against the USA and the governments that align with the USA.
The Saudis and others are already considering pulling investments from the stock market in the USA to safe places due to this war.
Couple that with Iran potentially targeting important infrastructure in Saudi Arabia and the UAE such as desalination plants, which could cripple them domestically and we’re looking at a recipe for the US stock market tanking and the AI bubble bursting as it can no longer be floated by wealthy middle eastern investment.
On the one hand, religious fundamentalists are fucked in the head and just want violence and their opinions and feeling should be discarded.
On the other hand, while it’s in many ways commendable that the Iranian president wants peace, he is negotiating with a group of people who are not acting in good faith, and should probably himself remember the axiom “never obey in advance.”
