Joey Hood: What Did The US, Iran Learn From Five Weeks Of War?

(Alex Raufoglu – RFE/RL) Veteran ambassador Joey Hood, a career diplomat who has served with a focus on the Middle East under multiple US administrations, says the United States and Iran have each drawn stark lessons from the violent new chapter in decades of hostility. In an interview with RFE/RL, Hood — who served as principal deputy assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs during President Donald Trump’s first administration, and previously as deputy chief of mission in Iraq and Kuwait — said Tehran has learned the US can eliminate senior leaders at will, a reality that will shape future Iranian decision-making. At the same time, he said, Washington has learned that Iran — or even non-state actors — can effectively disrupt the Strait of Hormuz using low-cost tools such as drones, mines, or even credible threats, without deploying conventional naval forces. If reported Iranian negotiating points are accurate, Hood said, the gap between the sides remains wide. Absent what he called a “political earthquake,” the risk of new escalation remains high, as each side still believes it can impose significant costs on the other. – Joey Hood: What Did The US, Iran Learn From Five Weeks Of War?