Las Vegas Review-Journal columnist Victor Joecks writes that Vice President JD Vance incorrectly assumes Iran wants a diplomatic resolution to the ongoing conflict. Joecks notes that Vance blamed the Iran war, high costs, and support for Israel for Republican losses in the recent midterm elections, where Democrats won Senate seats in Trump-won states and dominated Nevada races.
Joecks points to a ceasefire agreed to by President Trump in April and a June memorandum of understanding to reopen the Strait of Hormuz as evidence that Iran is not interested in peace. He writes that the terms were "comically one-sided for Iran," yet Iran refused to relinquish control of the strait and attacked ships there in June and July.
The columnist highlights a post-election statement attributed to Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei on X, in which the Iranian leader called America "the Great Satan" and said "the process of the U.S.' collapse has accelerated." Khamenei dismissed peace agreements as an "inclination toward submission" that would "embolden the enemy to launch more wars."
Joecks argues that Iran hates both Israel and the United States, making an alliance with Israel logical because the two nations share a common enemy. He concludes that since Iran will not agree to a diplomatic solution, "there's only good one option left — victory."
Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal
Original reporting: Las Vegas Review-Journal →
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