AZE.US
Azerbaijani political analyst Eldar Namazov says the current phase of tensions between the United States and Iran looks less like immediate preparation for a new large-scale war and more like a campaign of political and economic pressure designed to force Tehran into concessions.
According to Namazov, Washington is now relying less on direct military escalation and more on economic and maritime pressure against Iran. In his view, that approach gives the United States a stronger lever than an immediate return to full-scale military action.
He also points to divisions inside the Iranian leadership. Namazov says one part of the elite appears to favor continued negotiations, while another sees any concession as unacceptable. Under those conditions, prolonged pressure could deepen instability inside Iran itself.
At the same time, the possibility of de-escalation has not disappeared entirely. A diplomatic pause remains in place, but the core contradictions between the two sides have not been resolved. Tehran continues to view Washington’s actions as coercion rather than a genuine step toward a settlement.
One of the main risks remains the situation around the Strait of Hormuz. Even with talk of an extended pause, tensions in the area have not gone away, and disruptions to shipping continue to threaten energy and trade routes.
Against that backdrop, Namazov’s assessment points to a broader shift in the crisis. The immediate danger may not be a new major war, but a prolonged phase of pressure in which diplomacy serves as part of a harder strategic contest rather than a clear path to resolution.
AZE.US