The US entered the war against Iran as the world’s strongest military power, facing an enemy whose conventional armed forces were far weaker. Yet Washington struggled to transform its military superiority into a decisive political victory.
Public opposition to the war, rising oil prices, economic pressure and fears of American casualties all influenced President Donald Trump’s calculations. However, military analyst Eli Bar-On argues that the deeper problem was America’s inability to sustain protection against Iran’s mass missile and drone attacks.
US defenses prevented enormous damage, but American bases and Gulf allies remained exposed. Iran’s attacks disrupted energy exports, international trade, aviation and tourism across the region, increasing pressure from Gulf governments for Washington to reach an arrangement with Tehran.
The war exposed a dangerous imbalance in modern air defense. Iran can manufacture relatively inexpensive missiles and drones, while the US and its allies may need to fire interceptors costing millions of dollars against each incoming threat. These interceptors are complex, expensive and slow to manufacture, while Iran can continue launching large salvos designed to exhaust defensive stockpiles.
