John Mearsheimer, an international affairs analyst, said that Iran currently holds the upper hand as the conflict between the United States and Israel and Iran becomes increasingly a war of attrition. Criticizing the calculations of Donald Trump and Israel at the start of the conflict, he said: “Trump and the Israelis believed they could achieve a quick victory and force Iran into submission by delivering an initial shock.” Mearsheimer added that Trump and his closest advisers believed the war would be short, but signs of a long and challenging conflict are now emerging. According to him, as the war becomes prolonged, “almost all the winning cards are now in Iran’s hands.” The analyst also emphasized that the United States and Israel have so far failed to achieve their key objectives, such as regime change in Iran, destroying its nuclear or missile capabilities, and forcing the country into surrender. Mearsheimer further stated that relying solely on airstrikes and military pressure has not been effective, which has allowed Iran to continue to survive despite the pressure.
