How successful has the US been in achieving its war objectives in its now one-month-old war in Iran? | Euronews

## Summary
One month has passed since the US and Israel fired the opening salvo in Iran, kickstarting a war which has destabilised the region, disrupted global supply chains and caused an international oil price crisis, as attacks on energy infrastructure continue and shipping remains closed via the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Here is a look at the objectives as laid out by Trump and where they stand. ‘Complete degradation of Iranian missile capability’ One of the main goals laid out by the US president in Iran was to destroy their missiles and “raze their missile industry to the ground." The administration says that the ability has been significantly degraded, but Iran is still launching missiles and drones, including a series of barrages at Israel as Trump claimed that negotiations with Iran were underway. Trump said at the White House on Thursday that around 90% of Iran's missiles and launchers have been knocked out, and that drones and the factories where drones and missiles are manufactured “are way down.” However, over the past week, Iranian attacks appear to have intensified, with Tehran regularly firing barrages of drones and advanced missiles at Israel and neighbouring Gulf Arab states hosting US bases. The White House said in a statement however that ensuring that Iranian proxy groups cannot further destabilise the region remains a key goal and claimed that “proxies are hardly putting up a fight because our United States Military is so strong and lethal.” Go to accessibility shortcuts Share Comments Read more Yemen's Houthis say they carried out their first military operation targeting Israel 'successfully' Iran says it will 'facilitate and expedite' humanitarian aid through Strait of Hormuz Iran says nuclear facilities hit by strikes after Israel warns attacks 'will escalate' Military operation Iran Israel Iran war United States

## Article Content
By&nbsp
Malek Fouda
Published on
28/03/2026 - 9:50 GMT+1
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The White House continues to claim major successes in its ongoing operations in Iran, which have now reached the one month mark. Objectives of the war appear to constantly be shifting, but how successful has Washington been so far?
One month has passed since the US and Israel fired the opening salvo in Iran, kickstarting a war which has destabilised the region, disrupted global supply chains and caused an international oil price crisis, as attacks on energy infrastructure continue and shipping remains closed via the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
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US President Donald Trump outlined five objectives for Washington to achieve before ending its war with Iran. But now, one month in, he has suggested that the US may soon be “winding down” its operation, despite some of his key aims remaining undefined or unfulfilled.
By most accounts, US and Israeli strikes have significantly degraded Iran's military capabilities and killed scores of senior leaders. But, those tactical successes don't necessarily translate to achieving all the president's strategic aims.
Trump listens to a reporter during the swearing in for Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin in the White House, Tuesday, March 24, 2026, in Washington
Alex Brandon/Copyright 2026 The AP. All rights reserved
Some of his objectives are difficult to achieve and if the US walks away with unfinished aims and Iran's paramilitary Islamic Revolutionary Guard still in power, Trump could face political fallout at home and global repercussions about what was accomplished in his decision to launch a war of choice that upended the Middle East and roiled the global economy.
The US president has consistently insisted that operations in Iran are exceeding predictions both in success and timelines. Here is a look at the objectives as laid out by Trump and where they stand.
‘Complete degradation of Iranian missile capability’
One of the main goals laid out by the US president in Iran was to destroy their missiles and “raze their missile industry to the ground."
The administration says that the ability has been significantly degraded, but Iran is still launching missiles and drones, including a series of barrages at Israel as Trump claimed that negotiations with Iran were underway.
Trump said at the White House on Thursday that around 90% of Iran's missiles and launchers have been knocked out, and that drones and the factories where drones and missiles are manufactured “are way down.”
However, over the past week, Iranian attacks appear to have intensified, with Tehran regularly firing barrages of drones and advanced missiles at Israel and neighbouring Gulf Arab states hosting US bases.
A US F-35C Lightning II preparing for launch on the flight deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) in support of Operation Epic Fury on Monday, March 2, 2026
AP/AP
‘Destroy Iran’s defence industrial base’
Before last week, the US president and his administration sometimes listed this as a standalone objective, describing it as a goal to “raze their missile industry to the ground.”
Other times, this has fallen off the list. The Pentagon has generally lumped it into the first objective of destroying Iran’s missile capability.
The US Central Command has said its targets for strikes in Iran have included weapons production and missile and drone manufacturing facilities. Still, Iranian attacks against its Gulf neighbours and Israel continue, with officials in Tehran claiming they can continue fighting for as long as it takes.
Analysts say Iran has been mass producing and stockpiling weapons in preparation for such a war for many years, noting that Trump’s objective is unrealistic as these weapons, especially drones, can be produced in relatively small facilities at great quantities. It is also unclear how many of these facilities exist.
This partially redacted image from video provided by US Central Command shows a military aircraft in Iran shortly before it was struck by a US missile, Sunday, March 1, 2026
AP/AP
‘Eliminate their navy and air force’
The US and Israel quickly established air superiority in the skies above Iran, where they have flown largely unchallenged. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Thursday that Washington has damaged or destroyed more than 150 Iranian vessels throughout the course of the war.
After a US submarine torpedoed and sank an Iranian warship in early March, two other Iranian vessels — the IRIS Bushehr and IRIS Lavan — docked in Sri Lanka and India and sought assistance from the two countries.
There has been no indication from the US that they have since been sunk or captured.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has its own navy that also relies on smaller vessels to carry out swarm attacks and drop mines.
It is unclear how much of that force remains or whether it has plant

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## Expert Analysis

### Merits
- The US president has consistently insisted that operations in Iran are exceeding predictions both in success and timelines.
- The White House said in a statement however that ensuring that Iranian proxy groups cannot further destabilise the region remains a key goal and claimed that “proxies are hardly putting up a fight because our United States Military is so strong and lethal.” Go to accessibility shortcuts Share Comments Read more Yemen's Houthis say they carried out their first military operation targeting Israel 'successfully' Iran says it will 'facilitate and expedite' humanitarian aid through Strait of Hormuz Iran says nuclear facilities hit by strikes after Israel warns attacks 'will escalate' Military operation Iran Israel Iran war United States

### Areas for Consideration
- All rights reserved Some of his objectives are difficult to achieve and if the US walks away with unfinished aims and Iran's paramilitary Islamic Revolutionary Guard still in power, Trump could face political fallout at home and global repercussions about what was accomplished in his decision to launch a war of choice that upended the Middle East and roiled the global economy.
- It is also unclear how many of these facilities exist.
- It is unclear how much of that force remains or whether it has planted any mines, but Iranian missiles continue to disrupt shipping through the chokepoint Strait of Hormuz.

### Implications
- But now, one month in, he has suggested that the US may soon be “winding down” its operation, despite some of his key aims remaining undefined or unfulfilled.
- All rights reserved Some of his objectives are difficult to achieve and if the US walks away with unfinished aims and Iran's paramilitary Islamic Revolutionary Guard still in power, Trump could face political fallout at home and global repercussions about what was accomplished in his decision to launch a war of choice that upended the Middle East and roiled the global economy.
- One of the most pressing questions in the war is whether Trump will seek to seize or destroy about 440 kilograms of enriched uranium that Tehran has that could potentially be used for a nuclear weapon.
- The Hormuz Strait will have to be guarded and policed, as necessary, by other Nations who use it — The United States does not!” The US already maintains thousands of troops on bases and other installations in the region.

### Expert Commentary
This article covers iran, trump, iranian topics. Notable strengths include discussion of iran. Areas of concern are also raised. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 1715.