The U.S. and Iran are engaged in a conflict that is massive in scale but personal in nature.

The Trump administration gave its own explanation for why sanctions against Tehran won’t work.

If bombing has limited, reversible effects, then it will have to continue indefinitely.

The president is considering another escalation in the Middle East.

Regime collapse is unlikely, but a revised approach might still degrade the Iranian position.

Max Blumenthal fits into a long, disreputable tradition.

The quieter, longer-term strategy could help push the conflict out of the minds of voters ahead of the midterms.

Tehran wants the Arab public to balk at the cost of allying with the United States.

Even if the Iran war ends tomorrow, don’t expect relief at the pump any time soon.

And if he blames the next administration for whatever happens, he’ll likely succeed.