Robert Reich: Trump is cornered RE Iran. Here are the four options...

[Miles Archer]

Trump is cornered
Robert Reich
March 14, 2026 11:31AM ET

https://www.rawstory.com/trump-iran-2676108043/

1. He declares victory and exits the Middle East within a few days, even though the Strait of Hormuz is still blocked — hoping that Iran will unblock it to sell its own oil.

2. He unblocks the Strait of Hormuz with American warships escorting oil tankers, then he declares victory and gets out.

3. He spends the next two weeks trying to decimate what’s left of Iran’s missile and drone capacities and its navy, in the hope that everything will return to normal after Iran is neutered. Then he declares victory and gets out.

4. He gets Russia, Venezuela, and oil producer allies in the Middle East to dramatically increase production, in hopes this will reduce oil prices and contain the slide of the U.S. stock market.

[bucolic_frolic]

1. Definitely will declare victory because War is Peace

Greatest victory in American history!

Gasoline will be $15 a gallon and only available once a week, but victory it will be.

[Keepthesoulalive]

2. Whatever he does will not pacify the Iranians

We will the suffer the consequences of his ridiculous attempt to distract from the Epstein files. Because he’s a chaos agent on to Cuba.

[PATRICK]

7. Can give him a small window

to declare peace and get out and Iran will have its hands full of its own problems. Except then...Epstein and election suppression loses its terrorist rationale. Is that Epstein card what the Iranians must keep or do they even have some of that? Do they play into Trump's losing hand by gifting some domestic terrorism?

[SamKnause]

3. It isn't up to Trump.

He might quit, but I don't think Iran is in the mood for quitting.

He fucked with them 1 too many times.

Iran planned for this.

MAGA dick and his little pricks didn't.

[Miles Archer]

4. Trump and his goons DID NOT DO their homework

They convinced themselves that some kind of B.S. toxic male shock & awe bravado would win the day. They were wrong.

[SamKnause]

5. Exactly.

[Takket]

6. i'm honestly hoping for #1

because too many troops have already died for nothing. we don't need to spend any more money or lives on this debacle.

[Starfury]

8. How can they "unblock" the Strait without troops on the ground?

We'd have to clear out places like Bandar Abbas, the islands in the Strait, etc. Plus, we don't have the navy available to conduct escort operations through the Strait, anyway.

Besides, Iran has a thousand miles of coast line. Iran isn't just threatening ships in the Strait. They can threaten ports and shipping throughout the entire Gulf. If we did have the naval escorts available, they'd be under constant threat the entire time. And that's before considering the potential of the Gulf being mined.

This stupid war is an epic self-own that's only just starting.

[harumph]

9. Option #5: He stays in for the long term and attempts an actual "regime change."

Of course this will mean boots on the ground and an economic depression, but our supine R - controlled congress will go along.
He's already sending marines (7th fleet) and an amphibious assault ship. This will break our economy and it'll be a fire sale of public
assets for the ultra wealthy.

[Girard442]

10. Scooz me. How does an escort protect a tanker from mines?

Sounds like magical thinking to me.

[Irish_Dem]

11. Trump totally ignores Iran and moves onto his next victim

Trump is an opportunistic predator and if you can’t do a smash and grab quickly, he just moves on to the next target.

[Jbraybarten]

12. makes sense though didn't already declare victory?