Iran’s leaders believe a victory is within reach, and that time is on their side

CAIRO, Aug 8: The Strait of Hormuz is, by some accounts, named for a Zoroastrian deity destined to emerge victorious after a 9,000-year standoff with an adversary. Iran’s leaders feel their own victory is at hand and won’t require the same epic patience. They are betting that military pressure will ultimately force the United States to accept their control over the crucial waterway for global energy – and that time is on their side. They know about the diminishing stockpiles of key US weapons such as advanced missile interceptors. They know the war is deeply unpopular with Americans. They know…