Staff Reports
In a twist that feels like finding loose change in a couch you swore you’d already cleaned out, the president has decided to turn up the heat on Iran with even more sanctions. Yes, apparently there were still a few left in the drawer. With the introduction of tariffs, one wonders if the next step might involve having a firm chat with a stern eyebrow. These attempts to strong-arm Iran into compliance seem to be just another go-round on this diplomatic carousel. After all, sanctions are about as successful as trying to lose weight by staring at your local gym from across the street.
Our resident expert Jim Walsh, who’s spent countless hours studying security at MIT, points out that economic pressure alone won’t make Iran roll over and play nice. Evidently, the mullers of Tehran have taken a page from the “how to be a thorn in the world’s side” handbook, not letting sanctions spoil their ambitions. Iran’s missile production and support for proxy forces are all classic tweaks in its playbook. It’s like asking a cat to go vegan—sounds nice but it’s not going to happen.
Now, while many hope for Iran to drop its missile program like a bad habit, the cold, hard truth is that the country’s defense swagger relies heavily on its ballistic missiles. Its air capabilities, or rather the lack thereof, leave it exposed like a turkey in a rainstorm. It’s these missiles that keep Iran from being a sitting duck to Israeli airstrikes. This paints a picture of exactly how steep the diplomatic mountain is that negotiators need to climb.
However, there’s a glimmer of hope much like finding a Wi-Fi signal in the wilderness. There’s a sliver of space in the nuclear department where a deal might be patched together. Observers wax optimistic about a freeze-for-freeze scenario, a tune President Trump has whistled before in dealings with North Korea. No one’s expecting Iran to forsake its right to nuclear enrichment entirely, but a suspension could be on the table, giving diplomats something to sink their teeth into—hopefully in a non-toxic way.
Meanwhile, Jack Keane, our favorite Fox News military analyst and proverbial raincloud of reality, reminds us that the military option isn’t just a page in a book—it’s arguably the whole book. Nevertheless, pushing Iran into complete submission via military might is about as foolproof as building a house of cards on a windy day. Even with America’s military muscle flexing on the global stage, diplomacy remains the name of the game. In the end, it seems both sides are stuck in a dance where neither wants to step on the other’s toes, yet both refuse to change the music.
