Why Game Theory Predicts a Long War in Iran (Level 1)

Many people are surprised by the war between the United States and Iran. We can understand this war by looking at how leaders make choices. President Trump wanted Iran to accept his strict rules. He thought Iran would agree to anything to stop a war. He treated the problem like a one-time game. However, Iran saw it differently. They felt this was a repeating game. Leaders in Iran worried that if they agreed once, the US would ask for more later. Because of this fear, Iran said no. Soon, both sides felt they had to attack first to protect their weapons. Now, the war will probably last a long time. The two countries do not trust each other. Without trust, they cannot make a deal to stop fighting.