University of Chicago political scientist John Mearsheimer on Sunday delivered a harsh reality check to US President Donald Trump over the state of his illegal war with Iran. Can you tell me what the United States should do to regain leverage over Iran? Mearsheimer then explained why Trump’s threats to escalate his assault on Iran ring completely hollow. “The period where you can basically pressure Iran into submission,” he said, “I think is gone.” “Trump’s war handed Iran the perfect excuse to leverage its geography, and the Iranians didn’t hesitate to do so,” wrote DePetris.