Has the United States Achieved Its Goals in the Iran War?

By Tom Bateman
Representative to the State Department
April 11, 2026 | Reading Time: 10 Minutes

In the weeks since the United States and Israel began attacking Iran, a parallel battle has unfolded over the narrative of US military power as the war continues.

Since the first week of the conflict, I have attended press briefings delivered by Pat Hegseth inside the Pentagon. From the initial briefing, where America’s war objectives were outlined, to the latest update following the announcement of a two-week ceasefire, the messaging has remained consistent.

Hegseth, leading one of the world’s most powerful militaries, has presented highly controlled, broadcast-style briefings from the Pentagon podium. These briefings emphasized images of American military strength. On Wednesday, he stated that the United States had achieved a “clear and decisive military victory.”

In another session, he declared that the US had been “raining death and destruction from the sky all day long.”

However, a deeper assessment is required to understand the actual progress of the war and the cost involved. This raises a critical question: what has the United States truly achieved, and at what price?

Limited Progress on the Nuclear Issue

The primary objective of Donald Trump in this war was to eliminate Iran’s capability to develop nuclear weapons—an allegation that Iran has consistently denied.

This objective has long been part of US-led diplomatic efforts. Trump has repeatedly argued that the 2015 nuclear agreement, brokered under Barack Obama and known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, was insufficient and ineffective.

Despite military actions, the extent to which this objective has been achieved remains unclear, highlighting the complexity of the conflict and its long-term implications.