Is the U.S. Winning the Iran War? With Suzanne Maloney and Mark Dubowitz

The U.S.-led war against Iran has reached a critical juncture, raising questions about whether the campaign serves American strategic interests. Proponents of the maximum pressure strategy argue that military and economic operations have successfully degraded Iran’s nuclear program, missile production, and conventional military capabilities, while effectively securing the Strait of Hormuz. Conversely, critics emphasize that the conflict has failed to force a diplomatic resolution, instead eroding American regional influence and imposing severe economic burdens on both the U.S. and the Iranian populace. Despite the regime's survival and its continued use of proxies like the Houthis to inflict damage, the debate persists over whether the current containment of Iran’s war-making capacity constitutes a meaningful victory or a strategic stalemate that leaves the U.S. vulnerable to long-term regional instability and domestic economic pressure.