Dennis Ross (@AmbDennisRoss) / X

Pinned

Mar 7, 2025

My new book, published by Oxford University Press. It is now available, and explains the art of statecraft in a more challenging world. amazon.com/Statecraft-2-0…

Is the shooting war between the U.S. and Iran about to resume? Maybe, but yesterday the highly limited US strike and limited Iranian response showed that neither side wants that. Iran’s economy is collapsing and they have no good answers. Pres Trump now needs to be patient.

Pres Trump should anticipate that Iran will respond militarily against its neighbors if he is successful in adding significantly to the economic pressure already created by the blockade.They will respond to increased pressure with increased pressure. Hope he is prepared for that.

Iran is under pressure from the blockade and its economy is in freefall. But they have the leverage of the Straits, their ability to threaten the energy facilities of their neighbors, and know Pres Trump is desperate to end the war. Thus,their conditions to reopen the Straits.

The IRGC’s definition of the terms the U.S. must meet to act on the agreement with Oman and reopen the Straits: end all sanctions, pay all damages from this war, pull all U.S. forces from the region, etc. Will they back off of some of these? Yes.But they know they own the Straits

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