Iran military degradation fails to produce political resolution

Recent American and Israeli military operations against Iran have successfully degraded much of the country’s military infrastructure, including missile production capacity, navy, air force, and senior leadership. However, these campaigns have failed to achieve political resolution or regime change.

Analysts suggest the military approach underestimated the resilience of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), an institution capable of regenerating military forces despite sustained strikes. While US Central Command reports that transit routes have been cleared of Iranian mines, the Iranian governing system remains intact and continues to maintain offensive capabilities.

As a result, strategic focus has shifted from transformation to containment. This new approach emphasizes continuous financial denial to target the hard currency the IRGC relies on, aiming to create a state where the Guard survives but lacks the funds to maintain its dangerous capabilities.