Can Iran afford to hold back after US strikes?
Iran has since vowed retaliation.
It could resort to various moves, including targeting US bases in the Middle East, hitting Israel harder, and blocking the vital Strait of Hormuz, which handles about a quarter of the world’s seaborne oil trade, said experts.
Choosing to take military action against Tehran’s enemies “is extremely risky”, stressed Amin Saikal, distinguished visiting fellow at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies.
“It will invite massive American retaliation … President Trump has made that very clear in his speech about bombing the nuclear sites.”
Iran could also downplay the damages to its nuclear sites and not directly engage the US, he told CNA’s Asia Now.
Saikal, who is also an emeritus professor of Middle Eastern and Central Asian studies at the Australia National University, said Iran could block the Strait of Hormuz as a last resort.
“Iran is capable of doing that by sinking a number of ships in the strait and that will be enough to deter many ships from going through,” he added.
“My hunch at this point is that probably they will be focusing very much on hitting Israel as hard as they can, but of course, Israel is also hitting them very hard.
“But how long this can really continue and both sides can have the necessary resources to do so, that remains to be seen.”
