John Mearsheimer, the prominent international relations theorist and pioneer of offensive realism, stated on Friday that Iran holds “nearly all the winning cards” in the current conflict, leaving U.S. President Donald Trump with no viable option but to accept strategic defeat.
Tehran (ISNA) – The University of Chicago professor argued during a speech that Tehran has positioned itself in a place of immense strength. “Iran holds almost all the cards. They are in a very powerful position. By closing the Strait of Hormuz, they can plunge the global economy into a crisis,” Mearsheimer noted.
The renowned analyst highlighted that Iran’s leverage extends beyond energy corridors. “Their leverage is massive. They can fundamentally disrupt the functionality of the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries as functioning societies,” he explained. Mearsheimer emphasized that the U.S. administration is trapped in a strategic deadlock, stating: “Trump cannot climb the escalation ladder. At every single rung, Iran can defeat him.”
According to the realist thinker, there are no “attractive exit options” left for the U.S. President. He suggested that Trump is currently operating in a state of emergency, realizing that the current trajectory could lead to something far more damaging than just the collapse of his presidency. “We are playing a losing hand,” Mearsheimer warned. He further analyzed Trump’s recent rhetoric, noting that the President’s threats of “total destruction” were a sign of weakness after his escalation strategy failed. “He is retreating into the night. He is effectively saying: ‘I accept defeat’.”