Is US out of ideas regarding Iran?

According to CNN, the request came in an email from a senior officer at the US military command carrying out the war in Iran. „We are looking for new creative and unconventional ways to pressure and punish Iran,” reads the message written by an officer in US Central Command’s intelligence branch that was sent to military analysts.

The message shows how unprepared the US war against Iran was. Washington cannot force Tehran into accepting its terms, hence the need for the aforementioned „creative and unconventional ways.” The message was sent before Trump’s latest threat to launch new strikes, which were ultimately called off after Saudi Arabia intervened and urged the US President to de-escalate.

As CNN reported, both the Central Intelligence Agency and the Defense Intelligence Agency have assessed that current strikes conducted by the US are unlikely to boost its negotiating position. Donald Trump has been presented with different possible courses of action that could somewhat develop the situation. One of them would require heavy and consistent bombardment over one or two weeks to take out Iran’s missile capabilities. So far, the President has not ordered such bombardments due to reports of dwindling supplies of air defense interceptors and rising concerns about the risks of high civilian casualties. Another possible course of action would be the deployment of American troops on the ground, for example, to occupy the strategic Kharg Island or to remove Iran’s highly enriched uranium stockpiles. That decision would, however, result in high casualties on the American side – something the current US administration cannot allow.

It is most likely that the current status quo (that is, irregular attacks from both sides) will stay in effect until one of the warring parties, tired of war, concedes some of its terms and decides to sign a peace deal.