Iran retains the ability to strike strategically important targets belonging to the United States and Israel with relative ease, a factor that strengthens Tehran’s position in the current confrontation and could allow it to push for tougher terms in any future negotiations. This assessment was presented by University of Chicago professor John Mearsheimer during a broadcast on a YouTube channel.

According to the political scientist, Tehran is likely to raise the stakes as the conflict unfolds. He argued that as the United States escalates pressure, Iran will move further up what he described as the escalation ladder. Should attacks begin targeting Iran’s critical infrastructure, Tehran would be capable of responding with strikes on similar facilities in Israel and the Persian Gulf states.

Mearsheimer stressed that Iran operates in a region filled with potential targets and therefore possesses the capability to hit vulnerable economic and strategic sites. In his view, this gives Tehran significant leverage in the current standoff.

Under such circumstances, the expert believes Iran is unlikely to accept a peace agreement on Washington’s terms. He argued that Tehran still holds relatively strong positions and therefore has little incentive to make concessions to the United States. Instead, Iran would likely seek tangible benefits in any settlement, such as sanctions relief or other forms of compensation, and would approach negotiations from a hardline position.

At the same time, Mearsheimer suggested that if the conflict drags on, it may be the United States that increasingly seeks ways to bring it to an end.

The military operation conducted by the United States and Israel against Iran has now entered its second week. The sides continue to exchange strikes on a regular basis. Israel maintains that its goal is to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Washington, for its part, has threatened to destroy Iran’s military capabilities and has called on the country’s population to overthrow the current authorities. Tehran insists it is prepared to defend itself and says it currently sees no grounds for resuming negotiations.