Ali Vaez and Mohammad Ayatollahi Tabaar: Iran’s Long War | Foreign Affairs Interview

The ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran has devolved into a persistent, low-grade stalemate that both nations currently find less costly than pursuing a comprehensive settlement. Ali Vaez of the International Crisis Group argues that neither side can achieve a decisive victory, leading to a cyclical pattern of confrontation without resolution. Conversely, Mohammad Ayatollahi Tabaar of Texas A&M contends that Tehran is actively seeking to force a total U.S. withdrawal from the Middle East by escalating tensions and leveraging regional proxies like the Houthis. While U.S. sanctions and naval blockades have severely impacted Iran’s economy, the regime demonstrates a high capacity for absorbing pain, viewing the conflict as an existential struggle for national survival. Despite the potential for miscalculation, both nations remain locked in a strategic entanglement where security is increasingly perceived as indivisible across the region.