US-Iran War Enters Sixth Month Amid Unfulfilled Objectives and Heavy Losses

The six-month-long war between the US and Iran has been marked by significant losses on both sides, despite the initial claims of quick victory from Washington.

The conflict started with a missile strike on February 28, which killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several senior Iranian officials. President Donald Trump predicted that the war would last only 'four to five weeks,' but it has since escalated into a global oil supply crisis, with over 8,000-10,000 deaths and tens of thousands of injuries.

The US's objectives in the war were not clearly defined, but included regime change in Iran, an end to its nuclear program, and control of Iranian oil. However, despite repeated strikes on Iran's nuclear sites, Tehran still possesses 440kg of highly enriched uranium, which could be used to make a weapon.

The US also failed to achieve its goal of ending support for regional proxy groups, with Iran continuing to fund Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen. The war has resulted in an estimated $6bn loss in oil revenue for Tehran, with the Iranian rial having effectively collapsed due to economic pressure.