Endgame Uncertain as Iran War Fails to Deliver Swift Victory

Two weeks into the U.S.-led conflict with Iran, intelligence and defense officials say airpower alone is unlikely to topple Tehran or destroy its nuclear program, even as strikes degrade missiles, drones, and the navy; Washington faces a high-stakes endgame involving potential escalation or diplomacy to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, prevent a nuclear-armed Iran, and avoid mission creep, with Iran's leadership signaling continued resistance and experts warning that the original decapitation strategy has faltered.