Overall, we can see many significant achievements, and yet some critical tasks remain unfinished.
By Hezy Laing
Now that a ceasefire has been reached, it’s a good time to look back and determine how successful the campaign has been.
Overall, we can see many significant achievements, and yet some critical tasks remain unfinished.
The campaign succeeded in dismantling the adversary’s political and scientific leadership.
Senior decision‑makers were removed from the battlefield, research institutions were incapacitated, and the network of laboratories and development centers that once supported advanced weapons programs has been left in disarray.
As one Arab commentator put it, “The US and its allies succeeded during the 40 days of fighting in completely destroying the ruling elite in Iran – religious, military, political and security – from the Supreme Leader and his deputy, through the Minister of Defense, the Chief of Staff, the Head of Intelligence, the Head of the National Security Council, the Commander of the Revolutionary Guards, the Commanders of the Ground and Naval Forces, the Supreme Leader’s military advisor, as well as all the first and second levels of leadership, while Iran failed to harm even a single commander or a single senior figure from the other side.”
The economy, already fragile before the conflict, now lies in ruins. Industrial output has collapsed, with steel production—once a strategic pillar—reduced to a fraction of its former capacity.
Ballistic‑missile production, a central objective of the campaign, has been effectively obliterated, leaving the adversary unable to replenish long‑range strike capabilities.
Perhaps most striking is the fact that throughout months of intense fighting, not a single aircraft from Israeli Air Force was downed, underscoring the overwhelming technological and operational superiority that shaped the conflict.
Yet despite these achievements, many of the campaign’s objectives remain unmet, and they cast a shadow over the overall assessment.
Iranian oil continues to flow, sustaining the adversary’s ability to finance basic government functions and maintain influence abroad.
The Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global energy markets, remains blocked, creating ongoing economic pressure far beyond the region.
Hopes that internal unrest would erupt have not materialized; the population, though strained, has not risen against its leadership.
Essential services such as electricity and water continue to operate, preventing the kind of systemic collapse that might have forced a political breakthrough.
These realities highlight the limits of military power when confronting deeply entrenched state structures and resilient civilian systems.
Other factors complicate the picture. Iran’s regional proxies, though weakened, have not dissolved.
Smuggling networks and informal trade routes continue to supply Iran with critical goods, blunting the impact of sanctions and airstrikes.
Most significantly, the uranium remains in Iran. While the U.S. says there is agreement for Iran to hand it over, this is highly unlikely.
The chances of Iran voluntarily handing over its highly enriched uranium (HEU) stockpile are exceptionally low due to the material’s strategic value as a nuclear deterrent and bargaining chip.
As of early 2026, Iran holds hundreds of kilograms of 60% enriched uranium, which can be quickly upgraded to 90% weapons-grade material.
Despite intense pressure, including potential military actions to seize or destroy these stockpiles, Tehran views enrichment as a “sovereign right” and a key safeguard against foreign intervention.
While some negotiations suggested a voluntary handover, previous experiences of sanctions and diplomatic, military pressure have only led to further clandestine development and limited cooperation with the IAEA, making a full surrender unlikely.
In the end, a 75% success rate reflects a campaign that achieved its most ambitious military goals but fell short of securing the enriched uranium and producing decisive political change.
The achievements are undeniable, yet the unresolved challenges ensure that the conflict’s legacy remains unsettled.
