Political analyst Elijah Magnier says despite reciprocal strikes neither the US
nor Iran seeks an open-ended war because the costs to Gulf energy security,
regional stability and global markets would be extreme. He says Washington’s
recent strikes aim to reassert deterrence, protect US forces and restore freedom
of navigation, while Tehran is signaling that attacks will carry a price.
Magnier adds Iran is unlikely to claim responsibility for the reported downing
of a US Apache helicopter—that would invite a major US retaliation—and that
Tehran, while prepared to fight if necessary, judges Washington lacks the
appetite for full-scale escalation.
