Iran’s National Security Spokesman Ebrahim Rezaei to President Trump: As of today, our restraint is over. Any aggression against our vessels will be met with a heavy and decisive Iranian response against American vessels and bases. The clock is ticking against the Americans’ interests; it is to their benefit not to act foolishly and sink themselves deeper into the quagmire they have fallen into. The best course is to surrender and concede concessions. You must get used to the new regional order.
President Trump’s response: I have just read the response from Iran’s so-called “Representatives.” I don’t like it – TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!
Apparently a comprehensive failure to achieve any of his war goals in a reasonable timeframe is only going to make him double-down. Which means the USA is not only losing this war, but may risk losing it in an even more costly and humiliating manner if the legislative branch doesn’t impeach him and remove him from office. If we’re lucky, he’s just blustering and will soon do the smart thing and accept the military realities of the untenable situation in which he has put himself and the US military.
The dangerous thing here is that to date, Iran has been fighting a predominantly reactive and defensive war. But now that they’ve survived the initial Zerg rushes, its strategists have the time to figure out how to go on the offensive, both in the theater and beyond.