Iran’s Theory of Victory

Live updates

1. 1h ago

   Iran Rejects US Proposal as Conflict Nears US Midterms

   Tehran dismissed the latest United States response as insufficient, leaving negotiations to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz stalled. Mohsen Rezaei, the head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council and a former Revolutionary Guard commander, announced that Iran has stopped responding to Washington and demands clarity on unresolved issues. This diplomatic deadlock coincides with more than 200 days of conflict. President Donald Trump continues to claim victory, but these assertions collide with falling domestic approval ratings, rising economic pressures, and scrutiny ahead of the United States midterms.

   Why it matters

   The Trump administration has spent months conducting intense bombings against the Islamic Republic, yet United States intelligence suggests Tehran still retains thousands of drones and half its missile launchers. A September poll showed that only 34 percent of Americans supported the president's handling of the conflict. The ongoing hostilities place severe strains on regional maritime traffic and domestic American political stability.

   What is confirmed

   • Mohsen Rezaei stated that Tehran found the latest response from the United States insufficient.
   • A September poll showed that just 34 percent of Americans supported President Donald Trump's handling of the conflict.
   • United States intelligence suggests Iran retains half its missile launchers and thousands of drones.

   Still unconfirmed

   • The United States has accepted some of the seven conditions demanded by Iran while leaving others unclear.

   What to watch next

   • Further official statements from Washington regarding the stalled negotiations over the Strait of Hormuz
   • Shifts in United States public opinion and poll numbers concerning the conflict ahead of the midterms
   • Any military developments altering the operational capabilities of Iranian missile launchers and drones
   Sources used for this update (17)

   1. www.wionews.com — 100 victory claims, 200+ days of war: Is Trump's Iran gamble ...
   2. www.wionews.com — Is Iran’s military really ‘decimated’? Report claims US intel ...
   3. Foreign Affairs — Iran’s Theory of Victory
   4. Foreign Policy — The Next Iran War Is This Iran War
   5. The Soufan Center — U.S. and Iran Could Be Moving Toward Escalation
   6. Al Arabiya English — The American-Iranian arm wrestling: Who cries ‘uncle’ first?
   7. Energy Intelligence — US-Iran Conflict Points to Further Escalation
   8. www.foreignaffairs.com — Iran’s Theory of Victory
   9. Tehran Times — Diplomacy and the battlefield must be managed
   10. Free Malaysia Today — Iran’s moment of opportunity
   11. Vietnam.vn — Does Iran have a third option besides fighting or surrendering?
   12. Foundation for Defense of Democracies — Is the regime under pressure or will internal unrest be the ultimate?
   confidence 90%