Mehran Kamrava, professor of government at Georgetown University in Qatar, said Tehran deliberately publicized the deaths of seven soldiers in a U.S. strike to rally nationalist sentiment and shore up wartime support. He said Iran is experiencing a nationalist resurgence while facing high inflation, high unemployment and roughly $270 billion in economic losses. Kamrava added Iran recognizes it cannot match the U.S. militarily and is shifting the conflict toward economic targets, with recent atta

Mehran Kamrava, professor of government at Georgetown University in Qatar, said Tehran deliberately publicized the deaths of seven soldiers in a U.S. strike to rally nationalist sentiment and shore up wartime support. He said Iran is experiencing a nationalist resurgence while facing high inflation, high unemployment and roughly $270 billion in economic losses. Kamrava added Iran recognizes it cannot match the U.S. militarily and is shifting the conflict toward economic targets, with recent attacks on shipping reflecting that strategy. He warned the U.S. may respond in kind, attempting to exhaust Iran economically as domestic hardship—food, basic security and housing—deepens.