The White House continues to proclaim great successes in its ongoing operations in Iran, which have already reached the one-month mark. The objectives of the war seem to be constantly changing, but to what extent has Washington succeeded so far?
A month has passed since the United States and Israel fired the initial salvo in Iran, kicking off a war that has destabilized the region, disrupted global supply chains, and caused an international oil price crisis, while attacks on energy infrastructure continue and maritime transport through the strategic Strait of Hormuz remains closed.
U.S. President Donald Trump outlined five objectives that Washington needed to achieve before ending its war with Iran. But now, a month later, he has suggested that the U.S. could be "winding down" its operation soon, despite some of its key objectives remaining undefined or unmet.
According to most reports, U.S. and Israeli attacks have significantly degraded Iran's military capabilities and killed dozens of top leaders. But these tactical successes do not necessarily translate into achieving all of the president's strategic objectives.
Complete degradation of Iran's missile capability
One of the main objectives outlined by the U.S. president regarding Iran was to destroy its missiles and "wipe out its missile industry."
The administration says that the capability has significantly degraded, but Iran continues to launch missiles and drones, including a series of barrages against Israel while Trump claimed that negotiations with Iran were underway.
Trump said at the White House on Thursday that about 90% of Iran's missiles and launchers have been shot down, and that drones and the factories where drones and missiles are made "are way down."
However, in the last week, Iranian attacks seem to have intensified, with Tehran regularly firing barrages of drones and advanced missiles at Israel and the neighboring Arab Gulf states hosting U.S. bases.
