Abas Aslani, a senior fellow at the Tehran-based Center for Middle East Strategic Studies, said the deadly strikes by the United States were a response to Iran's insistence on its position regarding the "new security arrangement" in the Strait of Hormuz. He noted that Trump initially viewed this interim agreement as a "withdrawal mechanism" to avoid a larger war with Iran. "He's facing pressure from domestic public opinion, as well as from Israel, which may be why he took such action to save face," Aslani said. As the situation becomes increasingly complex, the window for resolving the issue diplomatically is narrowing. He pointed out that Iran views these strikes as an attempt to weaken its control over the Strait of Hormuz, but despite military pressure, Tehran has maintained its position. Aslani added, "These recent aggressive actions are relatively limited in timing, scope, and scale… perhaps the United States does not want to ignite the powder keg of regional conflict." However, the situation remains extremely volatile. "This is tantamount to playing with fire; any miscalculation could lead to the situation spiraling out of control and escalating into a regional war. Although we haven't reached that point yet, it is highly likely."
