Question for the Usonians, imagine Iran and the US making a compromise where the US owns the straight of Hormuz and in exchange Iran now owns California. How would you react to this news?

This is an absolutely amazing idea. If the US takes control of the strait it would mean mad cash money for our most important citizens: billionaires. And with California gone those damned democrats would never hold the presidency again and we could live in the fascist hellscape utopia every American dreams of. Shame about Hollywood though, I don't think the Iranians would appreciate the phenomenal propaganda powers the major studios wield.

I would tell Iran not to be foolish, that the US has shown many times that shows of good faith will be taken as shows of weakness, and to negotiate unabashedly from a position of strength. Keep Hormuz and take California anyway.

It's a huge economy with so many people who would benefit from being instantly free of the US sanctions regime. Can you imagine what could be accomplished there if they suddenly gained access to affordable Chinese EVs and solar panels? Cuban medicine? Culture from around the world? And all those Silicon Valley freaks with their flock cameras and eugenics fetishes would have to flee or lose the protection of the US government. I also think Iran, like most new vassal state owners, would be incentivized to leave as much of the legal structures in place as possible, meaning no religious law. They're not stupid, they wouldn't want to raise the danger level in their nice new wealthy province by implementing policies that would galvanize popular support for the right wing Christian insurgency that would immediately start putting itself together. They would prefer those people and the general public remain alienated from each other, and frankly so would I.

Overall I see some big wins and a few annoying losses, like shipping and administrative stuff. Oops, didn't notice the comm.

You lost me at 'imagine the US and Iran making a compromise...'.
Now I need to pour a replacement cuppa for the one I spewed at the wall.

I'd say it's not a fair deal.

Not American, but as a movie fan I would have questions about how Iranian law will impact Hollywood

WTF does geopolitics have to do with Frank Lloyd Wright's architecture?

Control of the straight protect Iran, and the owning California does not

what does California even do?

Iran away when that happened

USonians is an interesting way of saying American.