Opinion: One reason I don’t expect de-escalation anytime soon is President Trump’s decision to publicly refer to Iran’s Islamic regime as “scum.”
In much of the Middle East, honor and prestige often play a significant role in political messaging. From that perspective, some argue that publicly humiliating a leadership can be viewed as more provocative than military action itself, potentially making it harder for either side to step back without appearing weak.
WarMonitor / War Monitor
npub1hy…3rtnu
2026-07-17 13:28:41 UTC
Author Public Key
npub1hyvh5n8062s3ezvyqmhjmzflr9l20sg647mx4urn7npx0zug50yqt3rtnuPublished at
2026-07-17 13:28:41 UTCEvent JSON
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