Archive · 10 Sep 2026
Trump’s Iran War Revives Fears of Another Forever War
The United States is fighting Iran in a conflict that has lasted six months.
President Donald Trump says the campaign has achieved its goals and is weakening Iran’s economy.
Critics say it resembles the long wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Those earlier wars involved ground troops and attempts to change governments.
The Iran campaign mainly uses air and naval power.
It has damaged Iran but has not defeated it or stopped its nuclear program, according to the article.
Iran has disrupted oil shipments, which has raised U.S. gasoline prices.
Analysts worry there is no clear way to end the fighting.
Supporters say the war is a necessary response to Iran’s long confrontation with America.
Trump’s six-month campaign against Iran is drawing comparisons with the post-9/11 wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
The United States has relied mainly on air and naval power rather than large ground deployments.
Analysts say the conflict has damaged Iran but failed to defeat it or achieve several of Trump’s stated objectives.
Iranian disruption of oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz has pushed U.S. gasoline prices higher.
Critics warn of an open-ended conflict, while administration allies say Trump’s actions will eventually bring victory.
- Who
- The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump and Iran are the main parties; Israel joined the initial operation.
- What
- The United States is conducting a military and economic campaign against Iran that analysts compare with earlier post-9/11 wars.
- When
- The campaign began on February 28 and had continued for six months as of September 10.
- Where
- The conflict involves Iran, U.S. forces and Gulf waters, including the Strait of Hormuz.
- Why
- The Trump administration says it is confronting Iran’s nuclear program, while critics say the war was a choice and lacked a clear exit strategy.
Critics and analysts
Trump administration and supporters
Whether the conflict is another forever war
Critics and analysts
Critics say the campaign has become a battle of attrition with no obvious exit and could leave a successor managing an entrenched U.S.-Iran confrontation.
Trump administration and supporters
Administration supporters reject the comparison, saying Trump has achieved his objectives and that pressure on Iran will eventually produce victory.
Whether the war was necessary
Critics and analysts
Critics describe the campaign as a war of choice and dispute claims that Iran’s nuclear program posed an imminent threat to the United States.
Trump administration and supporters
The administration says Trump showed the courage to confront Iran over its nuclear program and that military action was needed to counter Tehran.
Lessons from Afghanistan and Iraq
Critics and analysts
Analysts argue Trump repeated earlier mistakes by underestimating Iran’s resilience, failing to secure broad allied support and lacking a clear strategy for ending the conflict.
Trump administration and supporters
Trump’s defenders emphasize that the Iran campaign differs from Afghanistan and Iraq because it relies primarily on air and naval power rather than occupying territory with large ground forces.
- Campaign name
- Trump’s operation with Israel was called “Operation Epic Fury.”
- Start date
- February 28
- Duration
- Six months as of September 10
- U.S. military approach
- Mainly air and naval power, supported by stepped-up sanctions and a maritime blockade
- Reported impact on Iran
- Military and economic damage, but no defeat or confirmed end to its nuclear program
- Economic effect
- Iran’s disruption of oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz pushed U.S. gasoline prices higher
- Political outlook
- Analysts said the conflict could extend beyond the U.S. midterm elections in November