A month into the Iran war: tactical gains, elusive strategic aims

One month after the US–Israel strikes began in Iran, Washington touts major tactical wins such as degraded missile capability and strikes on Iran’s defence industry, navy, and air force, while Tehran continues to launch missiles and drones and keep regional pressure on Gulf and Israeli targets. Although the White House says progress has exceeded expectations, several strategic objectives—fully destroying Iran’s nuclear capability, eliminating its military-industrial base, seizing enriched uranium, achieving regime change, and guaranteeing open shipping through the Strait of Hormuz—remain unfulfilled or uncertain, raising questions about the overall success of the operation and potential political or regional repercussions if the war drags on.