One Decision “Surrender would be far more dangerous to Iran’s survival than war.” - Iran Expert Trita Parsi
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Mar 5, 2026 
Trita Parsi, co-founder of the Quincy Institute and expert on US–Iran relations, explains Iran’s existential strategy and succession safeguards. He discusses IRGC versus regular army dynamics. He outlines Iran’s plan to raise costs regionally, Gulf states’ security shifts, MAGA backlash to the war, and why a face-saving US exit is likely.
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Artesh Versus IRGC Creates Different Loyalties
- The IRGC was created to guard the revolution while the regular army (Artesh) sees itself as defender of the country, not the regime.
- Parsi warns US/Israeli hopes for a split may fail if US-backed Kurdish actions make the Artesh view attacks as threats to territorial integrity.
Existential Mindset Makes Iran Fight Rather Than Surrender
- Iran views the conflict as existential so it will cross previous red lines rather than accept surrender.
- Parsi says this drives broader attacks (Qatar, GCC) to demonstrate willingness to survive war rather than capitulate.
Iran's Objective Is To Raise Costs Not Win Battles
- Iran's strategy is not to militarily defeat the US or Israel but to raise costs quickly enough to collapse domestic support for US policy.
- Parsi highlights oil market disruption and US political backlash as Iranian levers to force a US exit.