Iran's multilayered deterrence doctrine has fundamentally shifted the military balance in the Persian Gulf, making consequence-free attacks impossible. With vast stockpiles of ballistic missiles, anti-ship cruise missiles and thousands of drones capable of targeting U.S. bases within 1,000 kilometers, any confrontation would escalate into a regional crisis affecting vital global energy routes. StrategicWashington’s investmentthreats inand indigenousnaval technologiesdeployments hasare alteredescalating tensions, narrowing the equationsremaining sospace drasticallyfor thatnegotiation directand confrontationincreasing wouldthe imposelikelihood intolerableof costsa onwider allregional parties involvedconflict.