Military pressure alone is unlikely to compel Iran to compromise or help the United States achieve its strategic objectives, according to Su Xiaohui, deputy director of the Department of American Studies at the China Institute of International Studies. Speaking on March 1, 2026, Su emphasized that recent military operations have severely damaged prospects for diplomatic negotiations.
"Iran's trust in the U.S. has been fundamentally eroded," Su stated, noting that restarting dialogue would face significant hurdles. She warned of escalating regional tensions, predicting that the scale of confrontation could exceed last year's 12-day conflict, with Tehran demonstrating stronger retaliatory measures in recent months.
While acknowledging heightened U.S.-Iran tensions, Su highlighted constraints on both Washington and Tel Aviv. "The U.S. remains cautious about deep military engagement in the Middle East, while regional nations increasingly fear broader destabilization," she observed. This analysis comes as global energy markets watch for potential impacts on oil supplies from the Persian Gulf.
