Tensions between the United States and Iran remain high as President Donald Trump claims the conflict could end within weeks, despite threats of further strikes on Iranian energy sites. Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian maintains that his country does not seek war and insists any resolution must include guarantees against future attacks.
Speaking to VOC News, international analyst Dr. Oscar Van Heerden criticised the US approach, saying expectations of a quick outcome were misguided. “Trump was ill-advised in thinking this was going to be a swift decapitation, none of which has happened,” he said.
Van Heerden described the conflict as a prolonged and complex confrontation. “We are now one month into this conflict, this war of aggression perpetrated by the United States and Israel,” he added.
He noted that Iran has adopted a calculated strategy rather than direct military confrontation. “They understood that they couldn’t directly confront the United States military,” he explained, highlighting actions impacting Gulf states and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz as key pressure tactics.
“And by doing so, they have brought pain to the global economy,” Van Heerden said, noting that rising fuel costs are already being felt internationally, including in South Africa.
He added that while Washington may be seeking a way out, political considerations remain. “Trump wants to desperately find an off-ramp but still wants to pretend that he is in control,” he said.
Listen to the full interview below:
VOC News
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