Defense analyst Wolfgang Pustai said Iran's recent attack on US warships was a
"calculated escalation," noting Tehran targeted a guided‑missile destroyer and,
notably, an aircraft carrier — the core pillar of US military operations against
Iran. US forces successfully evaded the strike. Pustai called the attack a
"lucky opportunity" for Iran and said that, had it succeeded, Washington would
have faced questions over how, and whether, to continue the war. He described
the episode as a "very, very major" development and said US retaliation would
not be surprising.
