Foad Izadi, a political analyst at the Faculty of World Studies at the University of Tehran, told Al Jazeera that many Iranians believe the war is essentially about controlling the country's oil and reshaping the balance of power in the region.
Izadi referred to comments by US Senator Lindsey Graham as confirmation of suspicions that, according to him, have long existed in Iran.
"I'm glad Senator Lindsey Graham said he (Trump) wants our oil. That's what the Iranians have been saying and believing for many years," Izadi said.
He argued that Washington's strategy resembles old imperial policies, saying the US aims to dominate the Persian Gulf just as Britain once did.
“They want to go back to the 19th century… and they want to rule the Persian Gulf like the British did back then,” he said.
Izadi also referred to Donald Trump's statements, according to which Iran's borders could change after the war.
“The idea that many Iranians have here is that he wants to cut off the southern part of Iran, which is rich in oil, to break up Iran – essentially ‘balkanize’ it,” Izadi said. According to him, such a plan would allow Washington to create a new state in southern Iran and use it to control oil resources, while increasing pressure on China and expanding Israel’s influence in the region.
