Jeremy Scahill

So far to the contrary of the idea that they were going to decimate Iran's economy and it's going to be a disaster and they're going to have all this economic pain.

No, they're making more money, more money because of the war.

And of course, you know, obviously they continue to control the Strait of Hormuz.

And apparently what was not anticipated, I mean, Trump didn't anticipate they would close the Strait of Hormuz at all.

But certainly what was not gamed out and anticipated appears to be the fact that they'd say, no, no, we're not actually closing the Strait of Hormuz.

We're just closing it for you.

We're still going to sell our oil.

And if you want to come through and you want to pay our $2 million toll and you want this to be denominated in Chinese yuan, come on down.

We're happy to have your business.

And so this has created a very unlikely dynamic here where, you know, again, in terms of putting pressure on the Iranians to get them for some sort of concessions from them.

We are in the total opposite land right now.

The U.S.

would have to make some serious concessions right now if they wanted to end this war.

And I'm not even sure it's possible at this point because, I mean, number one, if Trump just like withdrawn in humiliation, it would basically be the

end of the American empire, you know, total humiliated.

It'd certainly be the end of his presidency.

But number two, Iran needs those guarantees that we're not going to be back here again in the near future.

And that part of how they get that guarantee is by exacting a severe price so that not just Trump, but every future American president understands, oh, this is not a good path to pursue.

Although I think the U.S.

also gave them the green light.