The Escalation Continues: Iran Is Raising the Stakes in the Gulf Iran has made it clear that it will not accept the continued maritime blockade Or continued attempts to export oil from the Gulf throughthe "Omani route". The next stage of escalation could involve targeting U.S. interests and assets in the Persian Gulf. Without a diplomatic breakthrough, which currently appears unlikely, Tehran has little incentive to back down. On the contrary, Iran may intensify its operations in the Gulf to impose additional costs on Washington and prevent regional countries from exporting oil while its own exports remain restricted. While Iranian rhetoric should always be treated with caution, these threats cannot be dismissed. They reflect Tehran's growing determination to increase military and economic pressure on the Trump administration in an effort to force a change in U.S. policy. The combination of increasingly aggressive Iranian statements, continued tanker attacks, and a diplomatic deadlock is bringing Washington and Tehran closer to another dangerous round of military escalation. The question is no longer simply whether Iran is willing to escalate, but how far it is prepared to go. #Iran #IranWar‌ Retweeted by @staunovo from @citrinowicz