According to Philippe Hensmans, “it’s as if he’s the one deciding exactly where the war stands, even though things are different on the ground“. It is indeed difficult to assert that strategic objectives are being achieved. “He has indeed gone very far in the destruction of the navy. But the destruction of Iranian missiles has not yet been achieved. Allied terrorist groups are still present, the Houthis could endanger the Red Sea. Regarding nuclear weapons, the Iranians still have 450 kilos of uranium. And then he announced to the Iranians that the time for freedom was near, we are far from that now“, lists humanitarian issues.
The situation of “asymmetric warfare” on the ground seems to even benefit Iran. According to Pauline Simonet, “the regime is getting richer through the Strait of Hormuz, despite massive destruction. They charge for passage, some mention two million dollars for oil tankers to cross the strait, and they sell their oil much more expensively than before. Iran could continue this war, which also allows the regime to survive“.
