The latest, continuing skirmish between the United States and Iran will be the new norm. Neither country wants a return to war, given that war is highly unlikely to lead to a decisive result in either direction. But Iran’s regional ambitions and anti-Americanism will drive it to keep testing American patience. In turn, President Donald Trump will likely maintain a whack-a-mole strategy of countering Iranian aggression.

Trump was certainly scathing in his appraisal of the Iranian regime on Wednesday. Describing Iranian leaders as “cuckoo,” he warned that future Iranian attacks on international shipping in the Strait of Hormuz would be met with disproportionate U.S. military responses. Trump also referenced Iranian efforts to assassinate him. As he put it, “I may be gone, too, because I’m their No. 1 target … I’m their No. 1 because they’re scum.”