More than three months after the United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran, US President Donald Trump can point to some significant military gains. However, several of the broader objectives he articulated at different stages of the conflict remain either incomplete or unmet, according to a Reuters analysis.
One of the clearest successes for the US-led campaign has been the degradation of Iran’s conventional military capabilities. Reuters reported that roughly one-third of Iran’s missile arsenal was destroyed, while missile production capacity has been pushed back by years. More than 1,500 missiles and 6,000 drones launched during the conflict were intercepted. Iran also suffered heavy losses to its naval fleet and air-defence systems, with a large share of those assets reportedly destroyed.
Despite these setbacks, Iran demonstrated its ability to disrupt regional security by blockading the Strait of Hormuz during the war, highlighting that it retains leverage over one of the world’s most important energy corridors.
Trump repeatedly stated that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon was a central objective of the war, Reuters reported. However, the conflict has not fundamentally altered Iran’s nuclear capabilities. US intelligence assessments continue to suggest that Iran could potentially build a nuclear weapon in less than a year if it chose to do so. Tehran, meanwhile, maintains that its nuclear programme is peaceful.
The issue remains one of the most contentious points in ongoing negotiations between Washington and Tehran, according to Reuters.
Another major goal outlined by Trump and Israeli leaders was reducing Iran’s influence through regional proxy groups. Reuters reported that several Iran-backed organisations entered the conflict already weakened by earlier military setbacks, leadership losses and logistical challenges.
While those groups have suffered setbacks, some, including Hezbollah, remain operational, indicating that Iran’s regional network has been weakened but not dismantled.
At various points during the conflict, Trump publicly encouraged Iranians to overthrow their government. Reuters reported that while Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed during the conflict and succeeded by his son, the Islamic Republic’s political system remains intact.
Although Trump has argued that the new leadership may be more pragmatic, analysts told Reuters that the core structure of Iran’s theocratic government remains in place, meaning the broader goal of regime change has not been achieved.
A preliminary but major issues, including sanctions, missile development and uranium enrichment, remain unresolved. Reuters reported that both sides continue to present the outcome as a victory, while analysts argue that the final result falls short of several of Trump’s more ambitious objectives.
According to Reuters, Trump has achieved notable success in damaging Iran’s military infrastructure and weakening some of its regional influence. However, the war has not eliminated Iran’s nuclear capabilities, dismantled its proxy network, or produced the regime change that Trump at times advocated.
