Iran came to the table only after suffering devastating military losses — nuclear facilities pulverized, scientists eliminated, missiles destroyed and the economy set back by hundreds of billions of dollars. The deal only holds if Iran eliminates its enriched stockpile and stops enrichment entirely, or the benefits vanish. This agreement reflects Iranian weakness, not diplomacy.

After sacrificing American lives and absorbing major economic damage, the United States appears no closer to a lasting resolution with Iran. The touted achievements — a reopened Strait of Hormuz and vague promises of future nuclear negotiations — offer little that did not already exist before the conflict. Rather than strengthening U.S. leverage, Trump's discretionary war has depleted resources, weakened deterrence, and handed Iran a strategic advantage.