The U.S. War on Iran: Military Supremacy and Challenges in Achieving a Decisive Victory

According to the "Financial Times," the U.S. war on Iran may push America to rethink how it conducts wars, given its substantial military advantage without achieving a decisive victory, along with rising human losses and financial costs.

As reported, the United States relied during the conflict on a military model based on long-range strikes, precision weapons, artificial intelligence, advanced aircraft, and aircraft carriers, aiming to minimize direct human casualties.

The "Financial Times" reported that U.S. forces carried out over 13,000 strikes during the first six months of the war, destroying the Iranian Air Force and a large portion of its naval forces, targeting senior figures in the regime and the Revolutionary Guard, and imposing a blockade on ports.

However, the report noted that operational superiority did not translate into a decisive strategic victory—hardline factions remain in power in Iran, and the future of Iran’s nuclear program remains unclear despite damage inflicted by U.S. and Israeli strikes.

The report comes amid stalled negotiations, continued threats to navigation by Iran and its allies, and the deaths of at least 18 U.S. military personnel and injuries to at least 624 others.

Additionally, 42 U.S. aircraft were destroyed or damaged, including F-15 fighters, an F-35, an E-3 aircraft, and more than 20 Reaper drones, according to the newspaper.

Operational military costs reached approximately $37.5 billion, with the U.S. Department of Defense requiring around $67 billion to rebuild weapon stocks depleted to low levels.

The paper also noted that the war has imposed economic burdens on Americans, with Moody’s Analytics estimating that the average American household could face costs of up to $1,000 due to military spending and rising fuel prices.

Despite these losses, the paper says the war does not appear to have triggered widespread public backlash within the United States, noting that while opinion polls show most Americans oppose the war, this has not translated into mass protests or widespread resignations within the military establishment.

The report suggests that the November/November midterm elections may present the most critical political test, revealing whether voters will hold Republicans accountable for the decision to launch the war.