Mustafa Khoshcheshm, a professor at Tehran University of Applied Science, said
after attempts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz failed US President Trump is
seeking a way to end the confrontation without admitting defeat. He told Iranian
media Trump refuses to concede defeat and has been seeking an exit that can be
portrayed as a victory; he added that, in his view, vessels currently transiting
the Strait are using Iranian-controlled routes, which he interprets as evidence
the US has been losing the campaign. Khoshcheshm also said Washington has
ordered US diplomatic posts in the region to operate at minimum staffing, a move
he said could indicate plans for a large-scale strike against Iran in the coming
weeks or months.
