America's war against Iran is recognized as one of the turning points in the foreign policy of this country in recent years. While Donald Trump, the former President of the United States, stated last March that the country has "won the war" and still needs to "finish the job," the existing evidence suggests different realities. Months have passed, and with escalating conflicts in the region, it seems that this "job" remains unfinished, with no clear horizon in sight.
Costs of the war and public dissatisfaction
America has achieved military successes in this war, but overall, this conflict has turned into a strategic disaster for Washington. Estimates indicate that this war has so far cost the United States approximately $38.1 billion and has also led to a global energy crisis. Public dissatisfaction with this war among American voters has significantly increased, and a growing number of Republicans in Congress are seeking to end this conflict. Even one Republican representative has initiated impeachment proceedings against Pete Hegseth, the Secretary of Defense, following this war.
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America's strategic failures in Iran
Despite the high costs, the United States has achieved limited successes in Iran. Based on various criteria, including Iran's ability to project power in the region through its proxies, military capabilities, regime strength, and the status of its nuclear program, it appears that America is failing in this war. Iran has now demonstrated its ability to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed, indicating Tehran's influential power in regional and global developments.
The Trump administration initially aimed to destroy Iran's missile and drone capabilities at the start of this war. While some Iranian military and intelligence leaders have been eliminated and the country's industrial capacity has decreased, Iran's ability to conduct missile and drone attacks remains intact. Intelligence assessments also question the Trump administration's claims of widespread destruction of Iran's military force, as Iran has continued to produce missiles in underground facilities even after thousands of American airstrikes on its missile sites.
While some Iranian representatives, such as the Houthis and Hezbollah, have gradually weakened, this situation is largely due to Israeli actions in Gaza and Lebanon. At the same time, tensions between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia, which have led to exchanges of fire, have raised concerns about the potential return of Yemen to full civil war.
Finally, it should be noted that Iran's security strategy in this war has been severely impacted. Undoubtedly, the war in Syria and Yemen and the increasing tensions in the Middle East have posed new challenges for this country.
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