U.S., Israel wanted quick win, but they failed: Mohammad Marandi Premium

Mohammad Marandi discusses the miscalculations of the U.S. and Israel in their conflict with Iran and its repercussions.

Almost two weeks after the U.S. and Israel started the war on Iran, the conflict has spread across the region. Iran retaliated by attacking Arab countries in the Persian Gulf, American assets in the region as well as Israel. The Strait of Hormuz, a critical international maritime checkpoint, remains effectively shut, sending fuel prices through the roof.

“The U.S. and Israel miscalculated big time,” Mohammad Marandi, professor of English literature and orientalism at Tehran University, told The Hindu in an interview. He said the Arab countries in the Gulf are not neutral players as they are hosting American bases. “As time goes on, the price of oil is going to go up. And the world knows that this is not Iran’s fault. This is the fault of the Trump regime and Netanyahu,” he added. Edited excerpts:

What is the status of the war now, and how do you assess Iran’s response?

I think it’s pretty clear that the U.S. and the Israeli regime have failed. They were hoping for a quick win. And we knew that this would not be the case. They miscalculated big time. Even Trump admitted this when he said he did not expect that Iran would attack U.S. assets in the Persian Gulf.

It either indicates that he is very ignorant or it indicates that the people around him knew, but they didn’t tell him because they’re Israeli firsters. And for Israeli firsters, the only thing that’s important is the Israeli regime. So we are where we are. Iran is striking U.S. assets across the Persian Gulf region. And, of course, it’s striking the Israeli regime regularly. There are estimates about Iranian missiles and drones and how many of there exist; they were, of course, wrong. Iran’s drone and missile factories are underground. They are producing drones and missiles as we speak.

The longer the war lasts, the worse it is going to be for them. That doesn’t mean that we’re not paying a price. Just before we spoke, they bombed Tehran and they are taking their revenge on ordinary Iranians because they failed against the military.