Can America Destroy Iran?

August 27, 2026

Since late February, US President Donald Trump has been engaged in a costly conflict with Iran. The US Congress has also opposed Trump regarding the expenses incurred in this conflict. However, the US President possesses such extensive emergency powers that he cannot be easily stopped. Trump repeatedly asserts that if Iran does not yield, it will be utterly destroyed—wiped off the world map—yet Iran’s resolve remains unshaken. Lt. Gen. K.J.S. Dhillon, former Director General of India’s Defence Intelligence Agency, stated at a conference in the US that it would be impossible for America to destroy Iran. Although Tehran has suffered significant losses, it still retains the capacity to wage a prolonged war. Lt. Gen. Dhillon explained that Iran developed this capability because it had been preparing for a conflict with the US for the past 40 years, not just recently. Iran structured its defenses so that even if its top-tier leadership were eliminated in a US or Israeli strike, the country could continue to fight. Essentially, Iran has adopted a “mosaic” doctrine of warfare, decentralizing its armed forces into 31 independent headquarters. Consequently, even if the central headquarters were destroyed, these 31 independent units would continue to fight. Furthermore, Iran’s geography offers natural protection, with mountains surrounding the country and the nation situated in the valleys below. Iran has also constructed a tunnel network running through the mountains for defense, making it difficult for the US to launch an attack. Military experts also note that the US is unlikely to deploy ground troops in Iran, as the loss of soldiers would undermine the President’s popularity. A flaw in the US strategy has been the lack of clearly defined strategic objectives. This holds true because the US campaign—originally aimed at preventing Iran from building a nuclear bomb—has now shifted its focus to the Strait of Hormuz, where a battle over the control of shipping lanes is underway. The question also arises: how can a conflict with a constantly shifting objective ever truly end? The US will never be able to destroy Iran, for even the mightiest of nations cannot completely wipe another country off the map in war. Military experts, therefore, maintain that Trump will never succeed in eliminating Iran. While Trump can certainly make life miserable for Iran, America itself finds itself in a predicament due to Iran’s unyielding resolve. If possible, the US should find an honorable pretext to halt the conflict.