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I believe that this administration more than any other post-WW2 administration either has a complete disregard for alliances or is actively seeking to shatter them even though most of them were designed by the US for US interests (eg NATO).

So yes, I can see this admin seeing OPEC as a cartel that is against US interests even though OPEC actually stabilizes global oil prices, actively. I also believe it's highly likely that the US wants to crash the global oil market when the Strait eventually reopens ahead of the midterms.

I too have seen the reports of a potential US UAE bailout and that could be leverage here. It's too early to say. It'll take time to realize the consequences of this deal and understand what led up to it and what the real goals are.

The whole war goes beyond miscalculation. It's the worst strategic blunder in US history (IMHO) and it's not even close. In 1973, the worst impacts happened 6 months after the blockade started. Well, guess what's in 6 months? The midterms. Iran is acutely aware of the US domestic politics of this. Iran also knows this is their best possible chance to end economic sanctions. Iran is more prepared to wait this out. Their goal really is to make the cost of this war so high that the US will never again think about repeating it.

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