In a recent interview with the South China Morning Post, foreign policy expert Trita Parsi discussed the strategic outcomes of US military interventions in the Middle East, specifically regarding Iran. Parsi, who serves as the executive vice-president of the Quincy Institute, posits that US airstrikes have not achieved their intended goal of destabilizing the Iranian leadership or triggering a popular uprising against the state.

According to Parsi, the military pressure exerted by the United States has instead provided the Iranian government with a narrative of external aggression, which he suggests has strengthened the regime's internal standing. By framing the strikes as part of a broader conflict, the government is able to consolidate support and deflect domestic criticism. Parsi argues that the reliance on military force as a primary tool of foreign policy in this region is counterproductive, as it fails to address the underlying geopolitical dynamics that drive tensions between Washington and Tehran.

The analysis emphasizes that the expectation of a domestic revolt following external military pressure is a miscalculation. Parsi suggests that such actions often have the opposite effect, creating a 'rally 'round the flag' sentiment that benefits the current administration in Tehran rather than undermining it. The interview highlights a fundamental disagreement with the prevailing hawkish view in Washington, which often assumes that military force will inevitably lead to a weakening of the Iranian state. Parsi maintains that without a shift in diplomatic strategy, the cycle of escalation will continue to serve the interests of the Iranian leadership while failing to produce the political changes desired by US policymakers.