Trying to Parse Trump's Iran Strategy(?)

By Nick Licata

Our military’s overwhelming tactical victories do not amount to a winning strategy. Even though Trump told the nation in his April televised address that the world is watching and “can’t believe what they’re seeing, the brilliance of the United States military!” A strategy can only succeed by setting a clear end goal, which Trump lacks. Although he has promoted several objectives, only one will fulfill them all: regime change.

Trump set that goal at the start of his war but has since abandoned it—probably because his MAGA base was built on a promise not to engage in another endless war, or at least those that last years, not weeks. He clearly understood that promise when he addressed the nation and his base directly, saying this would be a short military action. He asked Americans to keep this conflict in perspective. It will be short, comparing the time spent fighting a list of each of our last five wars, ending with the eight-year war in Iraq.

An expectation of a quick victory drove Trump to launch his Operation Epic Fury bombing of Iran. It was described as a targeted military operation, not a war. It was to be a “precise” and “necessary” military campaign with limited objectives. However, his objectives kept expanding, all aimed at securing a deal that would force Iran’s remaining leaders to unconditionally surrender. That belief is revealed when he promised to bomb Iran back to the Stone Age unless Iran succumbs to his demands.

He posted in caps on his Truth Social platform that Iran must MAKE A DEAL with him or OPEN UP THE HORMUZ STRAIT within 48 hours; otherwise, on Tuesday, “Hell will reign down on them. Glory be to GOD.” The second time he made this threat, it ended with, “Praise be to Allah.” Is Trump wrapping his arms around religion as he did with the American Flag?

https://www.postalley.org/2026/04/14/trying-to-parse-trumps-iran-strategy/