President Trump has struggled to articulate a clear path to ending the conflict with Iran despite months of military strikes. Neither Trump nor Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has provided a definitive explanation for how the war, now in its fifth week, will conclude. The administration's approach hinges on pressuring Iran's leaders into concessions they've previously rejected, a strategy that appears increasingly tenuous. More than 12,000 targets have been struck in Iran since the war began, including infrastructure and military sites, yet Tehran continues to retaliate.

The military's claim of near-total air superiority was undermined when Iran downed a U.S. fighter jet, raising doubts about the campaign's effectiveness. Powell Doctrine's failure looms large as the Pentagon grapples with the same challenges that prolonged conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.