Iran is on its knees, and can’t demand anything significant from Trump

https://s.yimg.com/lo/mysterio/api/1A73DB64751FF36D1DACB90514010D5EDE4827439D645F317A9D5BF52ED54A58/subgraphmysterio/resizefill_w167_h40;quality_80;format_webp/https:%2F%2Fs.yimg.com%2Fos%2Fcreatr-uploaded-images%2F2023-07%2Fd7c00a40-2fe4-11ee-b7f4-b41f464d2dd6

CON COUGHLIN

https://www.aol.co.uk/articles/iran-knees-t-demand-anything-121817413.html

With predictions that inflation could soon hit 180 per cent, and unemployment rise by another two million as factories are forced to close, it is hard to imagine a bleaker economic outlook, one that will be in the forefront of the minds of Iranian negotiators as they weigh up President Trump’s latest 14-point peace offer.

The mullahs don’t care about inflation as they will loot another million from oil revenues whilst the public starve and live in poverty

Sure Iran on it's knees. But Iran uses cheap homemade drones that are making havoc with America and their trillion dollar military that just cannot handle the iranians. Using a 1 million dollar or 500'000 €uro value missile to try to bring down a cheap homemade drone that costs a fraction of the price ? Who's the looser here ?

Edited May 11May 11 by SingAPorn

The yanks is don’t care about costs they’re budget for weapons would make your eyes water and they build lots of jobs for weapon systems which need improving year after year to stay ahead of bad actors

54 minutes ago, 3NUMBAS said:

The yanks is don’t care about costs they’re budget for weapons would make your eyes water and they build lots of jobs for weapon systems which need improving year after year to stay ahead of bad actors

Meanwhile millions of Americans do care about the cost of groceries, fuel for their cars, the cost of healthcare and the cost of housing.

All of which are being driven up by this illegal Israeli/US war of aggression against Iran.

Unlike Iranians, Americans get a chance to vote against this criminal madness.

11 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Meanwhile millions of Americans do care about the cost of groceries, fuel for their cars, the cost of healthcare and the cost of housing.

All of which are being driven up by this illegal Israeli/US war of aggression against Iran.

Unlike Iranians, Americans get a chance to vote against this criminal madness.

Are you American splaning for us?

12 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Meanwhile millions of Americans do care about the cost of groceries, fuel for their cars, the cost of healthcare and the cost of housing.

All of which are being driven up by this illegal Israeli/US war of aggression against Iran.

Unlike Iranians, Americans get a chance to vote against this criminal madness.

The war is driving the cost of healthcare and housing. Really?

19 minutes ago, TedG said:

The war is driving the cost of healthcare and housing. Really?

Refer links below:

https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/beyond-the-pump-the-iran-war-s-adverse-8978507/

https://www.politico.com/news/2026/04/14/iran-war-housing-rebound-stalls-00870047

Just now, Chomper Higgot said:

Refer links below:

https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/beyond-the-pump-the-iran-war-s-adverse-8978507/

https://www.politico.com/news/2026/04/14/iran-war-housing-rebound-stalls-00870047

Why would the short Iran war stall hosting sales. Rates have been high for sometime now.

1 hour ago, SingAPorn said:

Sure Iran on it's knees. But Iran uses cheap homemade drones that are making havoc with America and their trillion dollar military that just cannot handle the iranians. Using a 1 million dollar or 500'000 €uro value missile to try to bring down a cheap homemade drone that costs a fraction of the price ? Who's the looser here ?

Cheap drones are definitely annoying and can cause problems, but let’s not pretend Iran is out there defeating the U.S. military with flying lawnmowers and GoPro parts.

Yes, using a million-dollar missile to shoot down a cheap drone is an expensive tradeoff and that’s a real issue, but that doesn’t mean Iran has America “on its knees.”

It means cheap drones are a nuisance and force responses.

If cost alone decided wars, then every guy with a fireworks stand and a DJI drone would rule the planet.

The U.S. military still has an overwhelming advantages in air power, satellites, submarines, intelligence, logistics, and long-range strike capability.

Iran’s drones can harass and disrupt, but they are not some magical superweapon changing the balance of power.

58 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Meanwhile millions of Americans do care about the cost of groceries, fuel for their cars, the cost of healthcare and the cost of housing.

All of which are being driven up by this illegal Israeli/US war of aggression against Iran.

Unlike Iranians, Americans get a chance to vote against this criminal madness.

You're correct!! just like everyone else in the world Americans absolutely care about grocery prices, gas, housing, and healthcare.

But blaming every economic problem on Israel or the U.S. standing up to Iran is way too simplistic.

Iran has spent years funding proxy groups, attacking shipping routes, backing militias and destabilizing the region.

Pretending the U.S. should just ignore that because eggs are expensive is not serious foreign policy.

Also, America can do two things at once. We can debate domestic spending AND maintain national security. The U.S. economy is affected by inflation, energy markets, government spending, supply chains, and interest rates.

you're absolutly correct! unlike Iran, Americans actually do get to vote and criticize their government openly without worrying about ending up in prison. That’s kind of the point!!

32 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Refer links below:

https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/beyond-the-pump-the-iran-war-s-adverse-8978507/

https://www.politico.com/news/2026/04/14/iran-war-housing-rebound-stalls-00870047

Those articles are mostly saying the Iran conflict can add uncertainty to energy prices and mortgage rates, which can influence housing markets.

That’s very different from saying “the war is why your house costs more.”

Housing prices are driven mostly by interest rates, inventory, local demand, taxes, insurance and supply.

Some areas such as Florida are already seeing prices cool off because inventory is rising and buyers are backing off.

So clearly the housing market is a lot more complicated than “Iran did it.

On healthcare, blaming Iran is a pretty big reach.

Health insurance costs were rising long before this conflict. A lot of it comes from hospital prices, prescription drugs, insurance costs, and plain old medical inflation.

Also, the Biden administration expanded ACA subsidies. That helped some people pay premiums, but the money often still flows to the insurance companies and somehow, I know it's a shocker of the century, insurers still raised rates.

So blaming Iran for your health insurance bill is like blaming your dentist because your car insurance went up. Creative, but probably not the cause.

Yes, global conflicts can affect oil prices and inflation temporarily. That part is real. But saying the Iran war is the main reason Americans can’t afford housing or healthcare is a huge stretch.

While Iran blocks the Straits theres nothing the yanks can do about it but keep demanding deals Iran will never accept, there will be another threat soon on his Truth Social platform. He's done more turns then Starmer the harmer.

2 hours ago, BarraMarra said:

While Iran blocks the Straits theres nothing the yanks can do about it but keep demanding deals Iran will never accept, there will be another threat soon on his Truth Social platform. He's done more turns then Starmer the harmer.

Iran doesn’t “control” the Strait of Hormuz like it’s a private driveway with a security gate.

What Iran can do is threaten shipping and launch drones/missiles to make the area dangerous enough that companies hesitate to sail through.

However, that’s disruption and intimidation and not permanent control.

The U.S. and allied navies still massively outmatch Iran overall. Iran can make the road dangerous, but that’s not the same as owning the highway.

There stopping shipping and hold the cards till it reopens.

Edited May 11May 11 by BarraMarra

12 hours ago, ericthai said:

You're correct!! just like everyone else in the world Americans absolutely care about grocery prices, gas, housing, and healthcare.

But blaming every economic problem on Israel or the U.S. standing up to Iran is way too simplistic.

Iran has spent years funding proxy groups, attacking shipping routes, backing militias and destabilizing the region.

Pretending the U.S. should just ignore that because eggs are expensive is not serious foreign policy.

Also, America can do two things at once. We can debate domestic spending AND maintain national security. The U.S. economy is affected by inflation, energy markets, government spending, supply chains, and interest rates.

you're absolutly correct! unlike Iran, Americans actually do get to vote and criticize their government openly without worrying about ending up in prison. That’s kind of the point!!

It’s as simplistic as blocking 20% of the world’s oil trade and 30 % of the world’s fertilizers in the straits of Hormuz as a direct result of the illegal Israeli/YS war of aggression on Iran

Hopefully the US will begin to expend all of its weapons on bombing Iran. Trump holds all of the UNO cards (a true sign he is 'winning bigly') Iran is already beaten. Trump has 100% won. Iran is out of missiles and the missile they have are made of North Korean washing machine parts and can't hit anywhere near a target. Israel and the Gulf States haven't even been struck as the Patriot air-defense has taken out 100% of the cheap Iranian missiles and drones. Iran shoots women not wearing Burkas in the streets and has killed hundreds of thousands of protestors and they are two days away from making a 20 nukes with the nuclear dust that Trump completely obliterated. Everyone knows this! Seeing that Trump has already won, it will only take one more bombing run and the Iranian government will fall apart and mobs of angry Iranians will place Reza Pahlavi back into power and everyone will live happily ever after.

13 hours ago, ericthai said:

Cheap drones are definitely annoying and can cause problems, but let’s not pretend Iran is out there defeating the U.S. military with flying lawnmowers and GoPro parts.

Yes, using a million-dollar missile to shoot down a cheap drone is an expensive tradeoff and that’s a real issue, but that doesn’t mean Iran has America “on its knees.”

It means cheap drones are a nuisance and force responses.

If cost alone decided wars, then every guy with a fireworks stand and a DJI drone would rule the planet.

The U.S. military still has an overwhelming advantages in air power, satellites, submarines, intelligence, logistics, and long-range strike capability.

Iran’s drones can harass and disrupt, but they are not some magical superweapon changing the balance of power.

Exactly. Iran has already lost to "The Most Powerful Military Using The Most Expensive Weapons In The Whole Wide World." The US should just sail all of its Carrier Battle Groups into the Strait of Hormuz, land American troops on the Iranian mainland, and march on the undefended Tehran and be welcomed with open arms by Iranians seeking freedom, liberty, rock & roll, and LGBT+ values. 🏳️‍🌈

16 hours ago, 3NUMBAS said:

With predictions that inflation could soon hit 180 per cent, and unemployment rise by another two million as factories are forced to close, it is hard to imagine a bleaker economic outlook, one that will be in the forefront of the minds of Iranian negotiators as they weigh up President Trump’s latest 14-point peace offer.

Exactly - US inflation could soon hit 180 per cent and unemployment rise by another two million as factories are forced to close, it is hard to imagine a bleaker economic outlook other than a global depression. The United States MUST send all of its military resources into Iran and take the country that belongs to Reza Pahlavi and Western oil companies back by force of arms. The camel-riding, backward goat-herders don't have a chance against the Trillion Dollar Defense Industry of the "The Most Powerful Military Using The Most Expensive Weapons In The Whole Wide World."

Big difference saying something than doing something Connda. If as you say America has the biggest and best in the World. If thats correct why have they not sailed there Battlegroup down the Straits already, and why have they not put boots on the ground if as you say they have already defeated Iran's military ?

Edited May 12May 12 by BarraMarra

15 hours ago, ericthai said:

Cheap drones are definitely annoying and can cause problems, but let’s not pretend Iran is out there defeating the U.S. military with flying lawnmowers and GoPro parts.

Yes, using a million-dollar missile to shoot down a cheap drone is an expensive tradeoff and that’s a real issue, but that doesn’t mean Iran has America “on its knees.”

It means cheap drones are a nuisance and force responses.

If cost alone decided wars, then every guy with a fireworks stand and a DJI drone would rule the planet.

The U.S. military still has an overwhelming advantages in air power, satellites, submarines, intelligence, logistics, and long-range strike capability.

Iran’s drones can harass and disrupt, but they are not some magical superweapon changing the balance of power.

The US army is obviously superior to Iran's army. There's no doubt about it. The real problem is that it can only win at a significant financial, economic and human cost, which will be translated into political cost.

The Iranian regime's strength is that there are no midterms in Iran (or any free and fair election).

Edited May 12May 12 by candide

10 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

It’s as simplistic as blocking 20% of the world’s oil trade and 30 % of the world’s fertilizers in the straits of Hormuz as a direct result of the illegal Israeli/YS war of aggression on Iran

Nobody is denying the Strait of Hormuz matters, of course it does! If shipping through one of the world’s biggest energy routes is threatened, markets react. That’s obvious.

But you’re still skipping over why the region is unstable in the first place. Iran has spent decades funding militias, arming proxy groups, attacking tankers, threatening shipping lanes, and backing organizations that destabilize the entire region.

Also, Iran threatening to disrupt global trade is not the same thing as “winning.” If someone threatens to block the highway unless everyone leaves them alone, that’s not strength, that’s leverage through intimidation.

And let’s be honest if Iran permanently shut down Hormuz, they’d damage their own economy too because they rely on the same waterway for oil exports.

So yes, markets get nervous. But pretending every rise in prices is caused by “American aggression” ignores years of Iranian escalation before this latest conflict ever started.

The world economy is more complicated than “gas prices went up, therefore America bad.”

9 hours ago, connda said:

Exactly. Iran has already lost to "The Most Powerful Military Using The Most Expensive Weapons In The Whole Wide World." The US should just sail all of its Carrier Battle Groups into the Strait of Hormuz, land American troops on the Iranian mainland, and march on the undefended Tehran and be welcomed with open arms by Iranians seeking freedom, liberty, rock & roll, and LGBT+ values. 🏳️‍🌈

Nice strawman, but nobody said invading Iran would be easy, smart, or even necessary.

There’s a huge difference between saying “Iran’s cheap drones are not defeating the U.S. military” and saying “send troops marching into Tehran tomorrow.” Those are not the same argument.

And the whole “rock & roll and LGBT+ values” line is just emotional bait trying to turn a military discussion into a culture-war argument.

This discussion was about military capability and economics, not whether Iran should suddenly become California with kebabs.

Iran can absolutely create regional problems and disrupt shipping. That still doesn’t mean they are militarily overpowering the United States.

7 hours ago, candide said:

The US army is obviously superior to Iran's army. There's no doubt about it. The real problem is that it can only win at a significant financial, economic and human cost, which will be translated into political cost.

The Iranian regime's strength is that there are no midterms in Iran (or any free and fair election).

That’s actually a much more reasonable argument than claiming Iran has America “on its knees.”

Yes, modern wars are expensive politically, financially and economically, especially for democracies where leaders answr to voters and media scrutiny exists. That’s true!

But that’s also not a sign of weakness. It’s the tradeoff that comes with having elections, public debate and accountability.

Authoritarian governments can absorb suffering because they don’t have to win midterms, answer tough questions or worry about public backlash.

Iran’s leadership can silence dissent in ways Western governments simply can’t.

That said being able to tolerate pain longer doesn’t automatically equal military superiority. North Korea can tolerate suffering too. Nobody thinks they’re about to conquer the planet.

Iran’s strategy is mostly about raising the cost, creating disruption and hoping democracies lose patience politically. That’s very different from actually defeating the U.S. military head-on.