Multiple times, Trump has drawn a red line about attacking Iran’s energy facilities, and then backed off. Iran has been calling Trump’s bluff. Both economically and militarily, Trump likes to push around countries not willing to stand up to the US. But, when countries do, Trump gets his ass kicked. China won the trade war. Iran is winning this war. Trump is a classic bully who only wins when the victim doesn’t fight back.
Iranian pragmatic officials are being replaced with hardliners.
Trump’s choice may be: accept the L, or massively escalate.