And Iran represents the very definition of such a war. For a president whose political brand is built on restraint abroad and disruption at home, a war with Iran would contradict the central logic of his foreign policy narrative. A war with Iran – larger, more capable and more regionally embedded – would almost certainly follow a similar, if not more expensive, trajectory. open image in gallery People gather during protests on January 8 in Tehran, Iran ( Getty Images )There is also a danger that military pressure would backfire politically. This sits uneasily alongside the prospect of war with Iran, particularly the week after the US president launched his “Board of Peace”.