Aside from Iran's de-nuclearisation, the other objectives of war set by the US-Israel Coalition (complete de-missilefication, regime change and military surrender) are not possible without boots on the ground – which in itself is a risky proposition. The two emergent default war objectives, i.e the opening of Shatt-al-Arab Hormuz and re-instilling Arab Gulf's confidence in the US security architecture, now consume policy circles in the US. Opening of Hormuz to calm the nerves around the globe is on top. Iran, on Wednesday, announced permitting 'innocent passage' through the Strait, as some 700 tankers are stuck on both sides.

Pakistan under its mature and astute diplomacy is trying to broker a deal if the Pasdaran (IRGC) could be calmed by the Iranian side. The US seems desperate to clinch a deal as the cost of war has spiraled out of control, damaging American global standing diplomatically, militarily, politically and economically, in pursuing this unnecessary 'war of choice', as most American commentators call it. Meeting between Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner and the Iranian side in Islamabad in the coming days, would be a real icebreaker; Islamabad being close to both sides, and not party to the conflict.

Back to Hormuz. Iran's around 2,250 km southern coastline provides immense geopolitical leverage and is protected by Irani Navy, equipped with numerous speed boats, ensconced in tunneled bays, operating drones and anti-ship combos like the Chinese CM-302 anti-ship missiles. Hormuz waterway lies between Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Musandam Peninsula, in the south, is shared by the UAE and the........

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