Hawzah News Agency- Donald Trump, the President of the United States, who previously failed in a full-scale military war against Iran, now aims to intensify the "economic war" against Tehran in an attempt to change tactics. He has described this plan as "Operation DD Economic" and "the most crippling economic operation in history" against a country. However, prominent international relations experts, including John Mearsheimer, professor at the University of Chicago, and Rosemary Kelanic, director of the Middle East program at Defense Priorities in Washington, have explicitly stated that this plan is doomed to failure and will not only fail to achieve its goals but could turn into a major strategic defeat for the United States.
Washington's new plan has two main dimensions: first, the continuation of the naval blockade against Iran that began on July 14, 2026 (23 Tir 1405), and second, the complete severance of any country's economic relations with Tehran through the imposition of crippling sanctions and the threat of punishing violators. According to Mearsheimer, the second dimension is actually a reaction to the ineffectiveness of the naval blockade. However, analysts agree that this new strategy will also not succeed in the face of the Iranian people's iron will and the region's geopolitical realities.
The first and most important obstacle to this plan is Iran's spirit of resistance. As Mearsheimer pointed out, Iran faces an existential threat from the United States and Israel, and this is precisely what makes Tehran stand firm until the last moment against pressures and never surrender to Washington's unreasonable demands. Iran's modern history has shown that this nation can endure the harshest pressures and has never bowed to bullying.
The second major challenge for America is its inability to completely isolate Iran economically. China, as Iran's largest trading partner, has explicitly announced that it will not participate in the American sanction plan. Russia and Pakistan follow the same approach and continue their economic cooperation with Tehran. These stances show that America's failed doctrine in the international diplomatic arena has not only failed to attract new allies but has also distanced many countries from it. Even in cases where some countries, such as the United Arab Emirates, have announced their intention to cut economic ties with Iran, Tehran has clearly stated that such an action will be met with a decisive military response and heavy costs for that country.
The third and perhaps most important factor that will cause Trump's plan to fail is America's own time and political constraints. The type of economic war that the Trump administration has adopted requires a long time to take effect, but America does not have that opportunity. The global economy is in a fragile state, and the US midterm elections will be held in just a few months. On the other hand, the continuation of this economic war will raise global oil prices and exacerbate inflation in America itself. According to reports, since the beginning of the war, at least 18 American soldiers have been killed, nearly $40 billion has been spent, and gasoline prices in America have risen by nearly 40%. These figures are placing a heavy political burden on the White House and have sharply reduced Trump's popularity.
America's military failure against Iran has also compounded matters. Iranian missile and drone attacks have exposed the severe vulnerability of US military bases in the Persian Gulf and have forced Washington to reconsider its military posture. Reports indicate that America may lose access to 15 military bases in the region. America's stockpiles of advanced munitions and interceptor missiles are also under severe pressure, limiting its ability to sustain a prolonged campaign. In contrast, Iran can replenish its stockpiles of low-cost drones and missiles more quickly.
Mearsheimer emphasizes in his analysis that Washington has clearly stated it has no other military option, which is why it has resorted to economic warfare. But this change in tactics cannot compensate for America's strategic failure. Trump, who led the country into a war it has lost, is now flailing in despair and confusion in every direction. Experts believe that this war will be remembered as the greatest disaster in the history of American foreign policy.
Finally, Iran's threat to close the Strait of Hormuz if pressures are escalated could cause a catastrophe for the global economy and for America itself. Any disruption in the passage of oil tankers through this strategic waterway will drive energy prices to unprecedented levels and double inflationary pressures on the world's economies, including America. America's regional allies in the Persian Gulf have also been deeply disappointed by Washington's lack of a clear and effective strategy toward Iran.
Source: iuvm press
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