Ian Ralby, senior fellow at the Center for Maritime Strategy and president of
Auxilium Worldwide, warned the US‑Iran standoff around the Strait of Hormuz
cannot be resolved by military means and that continued fighting would likely
push up global fuel and food costs. He said one side wants to keep fighting
while the other aims to degrade its opponent’s capabilities, a dynamic that
tends to prolong conflict and could turn the Strait into a long‑term
navigational risk. Affected parties may press for renewed diplomacy, but Ralby
said changing the dynamic will be difficult because both sides are volatile and
have entrenched stakes in victory; Washington’s notion of victory is flexible,
while Iran has a clear desire for retaliation, raising the prospect of sustained
violence.
