Has US achieved its war objectives in Iran?

Has US achieved its war objectives in Iran?

With a fragile ceasefire now in place, the question remains whether the United States has met its goals in the ongoing conflict with Iran. The battle for public perception has played out prominently within the Pentagon, where Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, a former Army National Guard Major and Fox News commentator, has framed the war as a display of American military dominance. His weekly updates to reporters, beginning from the first strike, have featured dramatic language, such as claiming a “capital V military victory” or describing relentless aerial assaults as “death and destruction from the sky all day long.”

Yet, the true extent of the war’s impact and the sacrifices involved demand closer examination. The current truce, which has already faced scrutiny, offers limited insight into the broader strategic outcomes. President Trump’s primary aim was to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, a goal the country had previously affirmed. However, this objective had been a long-standing diplomatic priority, with the Obama-era deal—Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)—targeting the same outcome. Trump’s withdrawal from the agreement, marked by reinstated sanctions, set the stage for a shift from diplomacy to military force.

“The US has scored a capital V military victory,” Hegseth declared during one briefing. “We’ve dealt death and destruction from the sky all day long,” he added in another, highlighting his theatrical approach to conveying progress.

Despite these claims, the nuclear aspect of the conflict remains unresolved. After months of strikes, Iran still maintains its stockpile of near-weapons-grade enriched uranium, hidden in gas cylinders beneath rubble. Rafael Grossi, the IAEA director, emphasized that no military action could fully address Iran’s nuclear ambitions, a sentiment that challenges the effectiveness of the current approach. Trump, however, asserts the U.S. will now “dig up and remove all of the deeply buried… Nuclear Dust” alongside Iran, a vision that depends on the new leadership’s willingness to cooperate.

Meanwhile, the push for regime change has not materialized. Trump’s initial rhetoric called for Iranians to overthrow their government after the bombing campaign paused. Yet, even with key figures like Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei eliminated, his son Mojtaba emerged as the successor. Trump believes the new leadership is “less radicalised and far more intelligent” than before, akin to his strategy in Venezuela where he ousted President Nicholas Maduro. However, evidence of such a shift in Tehran remains inconclusive.

The war’s toll on the U.S. is also evident. Thirteen service members have lost their lives, with hundreds more injured. Munition supplies have been used at a rapid pace, though the exact extent of damage to Iran’s conventional forces—such as missiles, drones, and naval assets—remains contested. Leaked intelligence suggests Iran retains roughly half of its pre-war arsenal, casting doubt on the claim of total destruction. As the ceasefire holds, the Trump administration’s shifting priorities underscore the uncertainty of its broader goals in the region.