"The United States is not capable of real diplomacy"

The United States is likely to launch a ground operation against Iran, Jeffrey Sachs, an American economist and director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University, told Izvestia. The expert believes that Washington is not ready to make concessions to Tehran, and Israel wants the conflict to continue. At the same time, the monarchies of the Persian Gulf, which are friendly to the United States, are seriously suffering due to the escalation of the crisis. According to Sachs, American military bases are not able to protect them and, on the contrary, only attract Iranian attacks. However, the analyst does not rule out that the United States may decide on a ground operation in Cuba to overthrow the current government.

"Marines and special forces are already arriving"

— The war in the Middle East has been going on for more than a month. The United States and Israel are the countries with the strongest armies and economies in the world. Why haven't they managed to inflict a crushing defeat on Iran so far?

— Iran is a geographically large and technologically advanced country that has long been aware of the possibility of an attack from the United States and Israel. Tehran has an impressive arsenal of weapons systems and enjoys the geopolitical support of China, Russia and other countries. Therefore, there was no reason to expect any quick military victory by Israel and the United States. Trump reportedly believed that the assassination of Supreme Leader [Ali Khamenei] and other government officials would lead directly to the establishment of a pro-American regime. That was a misconception. We must remember that Trump does not listen to professional advice.

— Donald Trump regularly says that he is in contact with representatives of Iran. How close is the United States to concluding a deal with him and are they ready to make real concessions?

— There is no deal yet. The United States does not intend to make any serious concessions to Tehran.

— But is the scenario of freezing the conflict between the United States and Iran possible? And will Israel agree to a truce?

— Most likely, we are on the path of further escalation, because Israel wants to continue the war, and the United States will not make any concessions.

— What is the chance that the United States will decide on a ground operation?

— Ground operations are very likely. Marines and special forces are already arriving.

"American bases do not protect the countries in which they are located at all"

— Western media claim that Saudi Arabia and the UAE are allegedly persuading the United States to increase military pressure on Iran in order to achieve a more serious weakening of Tehran. How do you assess Iran's future relations with the Persian Gulf states?

— They should sit down at the negotiating table and remember that Israel is the main source of this war and chronic instability in the region. Iran and the Arab states should demand that the United States lift its veto on Palestine's admission to the UN as a member state. By implementing the two-State plan, the world community would also end the cruel illusion of [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu on "Greater Israel."

— How can the relations between the Arab states and Israel change? Is their rapprochement possible in line with the "Abraham Agreements" or, on the contrary, is the opposite scenario most likely?

— If the Arab countries have any common sense left, they will immediately withdraw from the "Abraham Agreements". Israel committed genocide in Gaza. That reason alone is enough to get out.

— Will the role and place of the United States in the Middle East change if an absolute victory over Iran is not achieved? Is it possible to strike at Washington's authority?

— If the Arab countries have any common sense, they will demand that the United States close its military bases. American bases do not protect the countries in which they are located at all. On the contrary, they attract blows. It is time to close these bases once and for all in order to ensure peace for both Iran and its Arab neighbors.

— The de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz threatens to reduce oil and gas supplies to Asian countries (mainly China) and the energy crisis in Europe. At the same time, it seems that the United States is suffering less economically, despite rising oil prices. Is it possible to assume that by deciding to attack Iran, the United States is simultaneously trying to weaken its main economic competitors— the EU and China?

— If this war does not stop, the U.S. economy will suffer just as much as the economies of the rest of the world. The United States cannot escape the crisis, just as Trump cannot escape the anger of the voters. So this war is not an insidious plan by the United States to weaken the EU and China, but evidence of their absolute incompetence, cruelty and delusion.

Special care: how the US can get out of the conflict with Iran

To announce his victory, Donald Trump does not need to unblock the Strait of Hormuz.

"Trump doesn't keep his word"

— The other day, Vladimir Zelensky complained that the last negotiations between Ukraine and the United States, which took place at the end of March, did not lead to results. Is it possible to resume the Russia–USA–Ukraine trilateral negotiations on the settlement of this conflict in the coming months?

"I doubt it." The United States is not capable of real diplomacy. Trump is not keeping his word: his promises of yesterday are at odds with today's actions.

However, given the current conflict in the Middle East, will Trump want to speed up negotiations on Ukraine and ensure that the crisis ends this year?

— The conflict will end either when Russia achieves its goals, or when Europe puts an end to all this Russophobia. Any of these scenarios is possible in 2026.

Invasion is imminent: The US is preparing for ground raids in Iran

What could be the target of American operations

"The United States will probably try to overthrow the Cuban government"

— On March 26, the second court hearing in the case of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro took place in the United States. Delcy Rodriguez has been in charge of the republic for three months. Could the overthrow of Maduro completely smooth out all the contradictions between the United States and Venezuela? Is there a possible scenario in which Rodriguez becomes an uncomfortable figure for the United States?

— Anything can happen. The US judicial system can and should declare that Maduro's abduction was a blatant and monstrous violation of international (and American) law.

— What are the prospects for the energy blockade of Cuba? Does the United States have a chance to change the regime in this country without resorting to military force? Or will the United States also launch a military operation against Havana?

— The United States will probably try to overthrow the Cuban government by resorting to a direct operation in addition to the illegal blockade. Cuba has many friends all over the world. They must unite to protect it from the American blockade diplomatically and economically.