RPA Board member: Protracted conflict model in Middle East could  undermine US dominance, expanding China`s influence

ArmInfo.The protracted conflict model in the Middle East proposed by Tehran could gradually undermine US dominance, while simultaneously facilitating China's expanding influence in global politics and economics. This opinion was expressed on his Facebook page by Artak Zakarian, a member of the  board of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) and former Deputy Defense Minister.

He noted that, despite Washington's technological and economic  superiority, Tehran has managed to engage it in a protracted,  resource-intensive conflict. Zakarian believes that if this  continues, the dynamics of the conflict and the conditions of warfare  could soon change. "Traditionally, US strategy has been based on  swift and localized actions aimed at achieving key results quickly.  This model minimizes political and financial costs, avoiding  protracted military engagement. However, Iran has chosen the opposite  tactic, focusing on 'exhausting' the enemy's resources and expanding  the geography of tension, including threatening the important energy  route - the Strait of Hormuz," the politician explained.

As the politician noted, Iran is demonstrating a willingness to use  control over shipping flows through the Strait as a tool to exert  pressure on international markets, while simultaneously signaling a  transition to yuan-denominated energy payments, which indirectly  strengthens China's position.

"For Beijing, this dynamic opens up additional geopolitical  opportunities. China is interested in weakening American influence on  energy routes and developing an alternative payment system for raw  materials.  Growing instability in the Persian Gulf also increases  Europe's dependence on logistics and financial systems, in whose  development China seeks to play a major role," the politician  explained.

According to Zakarian, Tehran's strategy relies not only on military  instruments but also envisions a gradual increase in economic  difficulties in Western countries. "Rising energy prices could  increase pressure on the European economy, creating tensions in  Western political systems. At the same time, Iran hopes for a change  in the position of the Arab countries of the Persian Gulf. The  current configuration of the conflict indicates that it is shifting  from a military logic to a more complex geopolitical process," the  RPA board member believes.

Therefore, according to the Republican, Iran is seeking to transform  the confrontation into a protracted struggle, the main instruments of  which will be energy resources, financial mechanisms, and regional  alliances. "Overall, the protracted conflict model proposed by Tehran  could gradually undermine US dominance while simultaneously  facilitating China's expansion in global politics and economics.  According to US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, due to the current  situation, US President Donald Trump's visit to China, scheduled for  March 31, may be postponed. It can be argued that the 'trade war'  between China and the US continues, especially at this stage, at  Iran's expense," the politician concluded.

As a reminder, on the morning of February 28, the US and Israel  attacked Iran. In response, Iran is striking US bases in the Middle  East. As a result of the US-Israeli aggression, Iran's Supreme Leader  Ali Khamenei and several high-ranking Iranian military officials were  killed. On March 8, the Iranian Council of Experts elected Ayatollah  Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late Ayatollah Ali Seyyed  Khamenei, as the new Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran.