For Iran’s Regime, Better to Take a Beating than Capitulate

Authoritarian leaders often find it politically safer to withstand external pressure and military strikes than to capitulate, as surrender can threaten their domestic hold on power. This dynamic is illustrated by comparing Iran's current standoff with the U.S. over its nuclear program to Saddam Hussein's refusal to withdraw from Kuwait in 1991. Despite facing overwhelming military force, both leaders calculated that absorbing blows was preferable to showing weakness, which could trigger a coup or erode their authority. History from the Persian Gulf shows that military pressure and sanctions rarely produce rapid political capitulation, as regime survival often outweighs the costs of conflict.