Sept. 2—To many analysts, the initial response to the Aug. 24 announcement by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent of Operation Economic Outcast against Iran, pledging that the United States would impose “Economic D-Day” sanctions against Iran and its trading partners, was that this proved that the United States had exhausted its options for a military victory. The failure to accomplish any of the goals—especially “regime change”—presented by President Donald Trump when he launched the war more than six months ago, meant that Iran was the winner, and Trump’s best face-saving measure would be to declare victory and withdraw U.S. military forces from the region.

The depletion of U.S. weapons, logistical problems in bringing in troops and supplies, the mounting costs, and the resilience of the Iranian people confirmed what many in the defense establishment had feared: that Iran was not Venezuela and would become another “forever war” if the United States decided that it were necessary to send in a large ground force to achieve Trump’s goals. Polls have confirmed that Americans do not support the war, and, with the exception of Israel, most U.S. allies have been unwilling to participate in a “coalition of the willing.”