Some tout U.S. victory in Iran. I’m not so sure.

If you listen to some people these days, Washington should start planning victory parades. “We won. Iran lost. Period,” says CNN’s Scott Jennings. Hugh Hewitt concurs, and the Wall Street Journal editorial page agrees the tide is turning — and they all have a point. The American military is getting oil from the United States’ Gulf allies flowing through the Strait of Hormuz, while choking off Iran’s exports. This is a remarkable display of military ingenuity. But it does not make the war a success.

Remember how it got here. In June 2025, the U.S. and Israel massively bombed Iran’s nuclear facilities, and Trump declared its nuclear program “obliterated.” Eight months later, in February, they went to war again, with far bigger ambitions. They attacked Iran’s leadership, killing its supreme leader and many senior officials. Trump urged Iranians to overthrow their government. The objective was clear: regime change.

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