Is military action against Iran the only option for the U.S.?

The core issue is that the U.S. cannot negotiate over control of the Strait of Hormuz! The Strait of Hormuz is the chokepoint of the U.S. dollar’s global circulation! Iran has placed a knife at the dollar’s throat—and the U.S. cannot back down; military action is the only option. With Iranian ports blockaded and its economy under comprehensive sanctions, blocking the Strait of Hormuz is Iran’s sole leverage capable of inflicting real damage on the U.S.—and it will absolutely not stand down. As oil prices fall, Iran intensifies its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Trump publicly encouraged and facilitated oil tankers’ passage through the Omani side of the strait. In response, Iran deployed bomb-laden unmanned surface vessels, rocket launchers, drones, sea mines, and even conducted boarding operations to intercept and attack tankers daring to transit the strait. On Election Day alone, at least four tankers struck mines and caught fire, while two “violating” vessels were intercepted. The U.S. cannot ignore Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz—it must respond. For example, on November 3, U.S. forces launched a “defensive” strike against Iran’s Qeshm Island “to deter Iranian attacks on commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.” U.S. officials stated that American forces have carried out a series of limited, covert military strikes against Iran in recent weeks—this was merely the latest. Clashes between the U.S. and Iran have never ceased! Such friction is escalating—and ultimately, the U.S. will inevitably launch a large-scale operation. As for the nuclear issue, it has become a secondary distraction masking the real conflict. Regardless of whether Iran possesses nuclear facilities or enriched uranium, so long as it blocks the Strait, the U.S. cannot stand idly by. On November 4, Trump stated he never claimed the Iran war would end immediately after the U.S. midterm elections. He said, “The Iran war will end when I want it to end”—and its conclusion must be “the right one.” On the same day, Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei issued a statement on U.S.-Iran relations: “Those who believe the outcome of the U.S. midterm elections could alter America’s hostile stance toward Iran are gravely mistaken. Should the U.S. launch another attack, Iran’s retaliation will be broader in scope and the war larger in scale than ever before.” Leaders on both sides possess a clear-eyed assessment of the current reality. The U.S. is reinforcing its military presence: transport aircraft are delivering missiles, drones, and air-defense systems to Israel; the USS Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group will arrive in the Middle East next week; and three amphibious assault ships—the USS Makin Island, USS Anchorage, and USS John P. Murtha—will also deploy to the theater. Iran, meanwhile, is ramping up missile and drone production and constructing additional defensive fortifications. However, should the U.S. launch another large-scale strike against Iran, its scale will not exceed Operation Epic Fury, initiated on February 28. This is because the U.S. military itself no longer possesses the foundational capacity to conduct an even larger comprehensive strike. First, ammunition resupply: In previous U.S.-Israel-Iran conflicts, the U.S. has already exhausted vast quantities of cruise missiles, precision-guided bombs, and air-defense interceptors. U.S. defense industrial capacity is extremely limited, and ammunition replenishment rates lag far behind consumption. U.S. ammunition stockpiles have reached critically low levels—insufficient to sustain a full-scale offensive. Second, damage to U.S. military bases in the Middle East: Iran has persistently retaliated against U.S. bases across the region, destroying numerous hangars, ammunition depots, air-defense radars, and logistics facilities. Many bases have suffered functional degradation, forcing partial U.S. withdrawals and lengthening supply lines. Frontline platforms capable of launching large-scale offensives—such as airfields for fighter operations, storage hubs for materiel, and staging areas for troop deployment—have been severely degraded, rendering them incapable of supporting the aircraft sorties, logistical buildup, and force projection required for a comprehensive offensive.

Crude oil futures plunge over 5%—oil prices under downward pressure!

Crude Oil Crude Oil: Diplomatic mediation shows progress; oil prices decline under downward pressure Researcher: Zhao Ruochen Futures Industry Practitioner Certificate No.: F03151390 Investment Consulting Practitioner Certificate No.: Z0023496 【Market Recap】 WTI crude oil futures fell 4.4%, closing at $86.85 per barrel; Brent crude oil futures fell 6.2%, closing at $92.24 per barrel; NYMEX gasoline futures fell 4.5%, closing at $2.6509 per gallon; NYMEX diesel futures fell 2.7%, closing at $4.2148 per gallon; NYMEX natural gas futures rose 7.3%, closing at $3.218 per million British thermal units. 【Relevant News】 1. Following his meeting with Qatar’s Prime Minister, Trump stated he believes the Iran war is moving toward resolution and that military action is currently unnecessary; 2. Iran declared that, under the threat of U.S. military strikes, it bears no obligation to accept comprehensive nuclear inspections; 3. Democrats are considering leveraging the upcoming expiration of federal government funding to pressure Trump into ending the Iran war.

Oil Prices Fall to Lowest Since August as Trump Says Iran War Is 'Effectively Over'

3 hours ago

Brent crude fell nearly 3% to $89.66 after President Trump downplayed military action against Iran, signaling lower energy costs and potential relief for inflation and consumer fuel prices.

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