According to Philippe Hensmans, “it’s as if he’s the one deciding exactly where the war stands, even if things are different on the ground“. Indeed, it’s difficult to assert that strategic objectives are being met. “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. On nuclear weapons, the Iranians still have 450 kilos of uranium. And then he told the Iranians that the time for freedom was near, but we are very far from that now“, highlights the humanitarian aspect.
The situation of “asymmetric warfare” on the ground even seems to benefit Iran. According to Pauline Simonet, “the regime is enriching itself on the Strait of Hormuz, despite massive destruction. They charge for passage, with some citing two million dollars for 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“.
