Mehran Kamrawa, a professor of government at Georgetown University Qatar, points out that the Iranian government is "deliberately" announcing the deaths of seven soldiers in a US attack in an attempt to rally national sentiment and consolidate public support during the war. He states that Iran is experiencing a resurgence of nationalism, and the authorities are using the emphasis on soldiers sacrificing themselves for their country to maintain public support for the regime. This support is crucial because Iran is mired in high inflation, high unemployment, and economic losses amounting to $270 billion. Kamrawa believes that Iran understands it cannot militarily compete with the US, and is therefore shifting the focus of the conflict to the economic sphere; the attacks on shipping are a manifestation of this strategy. The US may respond with similar tactics. He notes, "A revolution cannot happen in hunger. When people begin to worry about their next meal, basic security, and shelter, the US may try to economically exhaust Iran's resilience."
