The breakdown of their negotiations on the Red Sea shipping lanes has once again raised the attention of the international community. The United States, which unites 20 countries to form a large joint fleet, accuses Iran of attacking both merchant and civilian ships.
Iran, for its part, has firmly denied the accusation, claiming that it is an action taken by Middle Eastern countries to defend Gaza and has nothing to do with Iran.
In addition, the United States demanded that Iran stop Yemen's blockade of the Red Sea, but Iran also refused.
The breakdown of this negotiation not only exposed the contradictions and differences within the US Combined Fleet, but also revealed the gradual weakening of US influence in the international arena.
Against this backdrop, a question arises: Is it true that America's global influence is in sharp decline?
The wrestling between the United States and Iran is actually a game of international politics. The United States is trying to demonstrate its military power and international influence by assembling a large combined fleet.
However, the practical effect of this combined fleet was greatly reduced. Four countries sent only staff officers, two did not behave actively, and three more clearly expressed their opposition to the US position.
Eight more countries chose to join the fleet anonymously out of fear of other major powers and Middle Eastern countries.
Behind this superficial solidarity is actually a myriad of interests and considerations among countries.
Iran, for its part, has taken a tough stance. Not only did they refuse all the demands of the United States, but they even raised the possibility of blockading the Mediterranean.
Although the reality is that Iran does not have the military strength to carry out this threat, their statement is undoubtedly a challenge to the United States.
Iran may achieve its political goals with the help of external forces through cooperation with countries such as Russia.
The current Russia-Ukraine conflict has made Russia eager to regain its influence internationally, so it cannot be ruled out that they will support Iran's actions.
Iran may also work with Egypt, Syria and other countries to achieve control over certain areas of the Mediterranean Sea by deploying long-range anti-ship missiles or drone launch platforms.
This control, while not a complete blockade, is enough to have a significant impact on the countries bordering the Mediterranean.
In particular, control over the Israeli coastal areas and the waters adjacent to the Aegean Sea will have a direct impact on the political and economic security of those areas.
The United States appears to be quite passive in this game. Despite their military might, their influence is waning in multilateral relations of international politics.
European shipping companies have expressed doubts about the strength and effectiveness of the United States Combined Fleet, and there are even voices questioning the role and capabilities of the United States in this conflict.
This attitude and behavior of the United States has prompted Iran to take more active actions and try to challenge the influence of the United States in various ways.
As America's bottom line on the international stage continues to decline, so does the ambitions and scope of activities of Iran and other Middle Eastern countries.
The decline of the United States seems to be happening faster than many people think, and their role and influence in international politics are undergoing subtle changes.
This not only poses a challenge to the United States itself, but also has a profound impact on the international political landscape.
How the United States will respond to this challenge is a question of concern. Against this background, the conflict between the United States and Iran is not only a confrontation between the two countries, but also a contest over a new pattern of international politics.
In this game between the United States and Iran, the decline of the United States and Iran's ambitions are only superficial, and the deeper is the restructuring of international political forces.
Iran, through cooperation with other countries, especially Russia and allies in the Middle East, is actively looking for a breakthrough to expand its influence.
For example, cooperation with Russia could give Iran more military and political support, while cooperation with countries such as Egypt and Syria could help Iran gain a greater voice in the Mediterranean.
Behind this strategy is Iran's accurate judgment of the current international situation and the repositioning of its own position.
Iran is well aware that it has an opportunity to expand its influence in the Middle East and beyond, at a time when American influence is waning. Through multi-party cooperation, they seek to play a more important role in international politics.
At the same time, the role of the United States is changing. In the past, the United States has played a leading role in international affairs by virtue of its great military power and economic influence.
However, with the accumulation of domestic politics, economic problems, and the complication of international relations, the global influence of the United States is gradually weakening.
This not only affects the position of the United States in international affairs, but also gives other countries, especially regional powers like Iran, the opportunity to expand their sphere of influence.
Against this backdrop, Iran's strategy is particularly sensible. They have not only taken a positive posture militarily, but more importantly, they have shown a high degree of flexibility and tactics in diplomacy.
Through cooperation with different countries, Iran has gradually improved its status and influence in the international arena.
This strategy not only poses a challenge to the United States, but also has a profound impact on the entire international political landscape.
In this volatile international political arena, the US-Iran conflict is not only a contest between the two countries, but also a microcosm of the global power confrontation.
The weakening of the influence of the United States as a long-term international hegemon marks a change in the global power structure.
Iran, for its part, has seized the opportunity to seek its place in the new international political landscape through flexible diplomacy and military strategy.
This game not only shows the contest of power and strategy in international politics, but also reflects a deeper change: in the era of globalization, the influence of any country is no longer isolated, but closely related to the dynamics of the international community.
The U.S.-Iran conflict reminds us that international relations are in a constant process of change and adjustment.
Every country, big or small, needs to assess the situation and flexibly adjust its diplomatic and military strategies to cope with this volatile and complex international environment.
In the future international political arena, we may witness more similar games and confrontations. These events will continue to shape and change the landscape of international relations and affect the fate of every country.
We should also recognize that every decision and action they make, whether it is a powerful United States or a rising Iran, will have far-reaching repercussions in this interconnected, inter-influencing world.