Malcolm Davis, a Senior Analyst in Defence Strategy at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute in Canberra, stated that the US faces “no straightforward route to success” in its conflict with Iran.
Davis informed Xenix News’ Polo Sandoval that he doesn’t have much optimism for a deal between the US and Iran in the potential second round of talks in Islamabad this week, as the gap between their requirements is too wide.
Davies stated, “The chances of seeing anything emerge from this that will truly settle this (conflict) are not promising.” According to Davies, if discussions yield no results, the US faces two primary choices: it can either maintain its naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz or revert to a state of warfare.
He stated that “there is no assurance that merely bombing Iran will fulfill US strategic goals,” noting that “there’s a significant danger that this conflict escalates uncontrollably and ultimately fails to accomplish anything.”
If US President Donald Trump decided to exit the war and proclaim victory without meeting his objectives, like dismantling Iran’s nuclear program, rivals like China and Russia would perceive the US as weak, Davies noted.
Davies stated, “The Iranians have proven to be a more resilient opponent than I believe the US anticipated.”
“This is a difficult scenario as this dispute involves not only Iran but also carries strategic consequences for the broader international strategic landscape.”
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