An analyst stated that Iran's latest attack on US warships was a "calculated escalation." Defense analyst Wolfgang Pustä said that Iran wasn't just targeting two ordinary warships; they were aiming at a guided-missile destroyer, and more importantly, an aircraft carrier—a core pillar of US military operations against Iran. Although the US military successfully evaded the attack, it was still a "lucky opportunity" for Iran. Had the attack succeeded, the US would have had to discuss "how to continue this war, and whether it should continue at all." This is a very, very significant development, so US retaliation is not surprising.
