Trump's objectives met in conflict with Iran yet unclear.

Following airstrikes by the US and Israel against Iran on February 28, President Donald Trump outlined multiple goals, including crippling Iran's ballistic missile arsenal and preventing Tehran from acquiring a nuclear capability at any cost.

Following the joint military operation by the US and Israel against Iran on February 28, US President Donald Trump outlined multiple strategic goals, including neutralizing Iran's ballistic missile arsenal and preventing nuclear armament in Tehran.

Despite a tentative agreement after nearly four months of negotiations, what tangible results can be attributed to Trump?

Iran's pre-war arsenal boasted the largest ballistic stockpile in the Middle East, encompassing a range of 2,500 to 6,000 missiles. Notably, certain models had a striking capability of up to 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles), posing a threat to Israel.

Tehran's arsenal includes a significant production capacity for long-range drones, notably the Shahed model, which has been employed by both Russian forces and Iranian military units.

Approximately a month into the conflict, reports from US authorities indicated that nearly 33% of Iran's aerial capabilities had been severely compromised.

Iran's missile and drone production timeline has been significantly delayed, according to Admiral Brad Cooper, who testified before Congress on May 14. The U.S. and its partners have successfully disrupted over 1,500 missiles and 6,000 drones since the conflict began.

Uncertainty surrounds Iran's missile reserves, yet its capacity to strike U.S.-aligned nations persists. Evidence of this capability emerged on June 6, as salvos targeted Kuwait and Bahrain, followed by a missile attack on Israel the next day, June 7. Fortunately for those countries, damage was minimal according to their reports.

Iran's conventional warfare capabilities have been significantly impaired, according to the US military's assessment of regional dynamics and operational threats.

The US military's campaign against Iran has yielded significant results, with 161 Iranian naval vessels being destroyed and a substantial portion of its air defense capabilities rendered inoperable, specifically 82% of them. The Iranian air force, which previously conducted up to 100 daily sorties, has ceased all flight operations.

Iran successfully restricted access to the Strait of Hormuz for the entire duration of the conflict, trapping a significant portion of global oil and natural gas shipments, which account for one-fifth of worldwide supplies, using an array of tactics including speedboats, mines, drones and missile-equipped vessels.

The Trump administration's primary objective remains preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear arsenal, according to the President's repeated assertions. Conversely, Iranian officials have persistently maintained that their nuclear endeavors are solely focused on non-military applications.

Despite the ongoing conflict, Iran's nuclear capabilities remain largely intact. Intelligence assessments from the US indicate that Tehran could still assemble a nuclear arsenal within a year, echoing predictions made after the June 2025 attacks on its nuclear sites.

The nuclear program in Iran will be a major point of contention when the framework agreement is finalized on Friday. According to reports, President Trump insists that all enriched uranium from Iran must be removed from the country's borders. Meanwhile, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has stated categorically that no uranium can be sent outside Iran's territory.

At a press conference held on March 2 at the White House, President Trump emphasized that Iran's ability to supply and finance militias in Iraq, Lebanon, Gaza, and Yemen must be curtailed, given its long-standing reliance on these groups to exert influence and deter adversaries.

Despite ongoing conflict, Iran continues to back these entities without hesitation. However evaluations from both US military and outside sources indicate a significant decline in Iran's proxy network effectiveness since the war began.

The groundwork for this shift was laid before the war even started. Israel dealt a devastating blow to Hamas, eliminating key leaders and thousands of combatants in Gaza following the October 7, 2023, assault on its territory. The Hezbollah militia suffered similarly in Lebanon. Meanwhile, Iran's influence waned with the downfall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria in 2024. Economic sanctions further eroded Tehran's capacity to support these groups financially.

Iranian-backed forces have largely been absent from the conflict's main stage. Despite this, Hamas hasn't launched any attacks against Israel from its Gaza Strip stronghold. Meanwhile, Houthi rebels haven't had a substantial impact on maritime traffic in the Red Sea off Yemen's coast.

On March 2, Hezbollah's military campaign ignited a fierce response from Israel, which retaliated with airstrikes and a ground incursion. The devastating consequences are stark: nearly 3,700 lives lost and over 1.2 million displaced in Lebanon. Meanwhile, Israeli forces have suffered significant losses, with 28 soldiers and four civilians falling victim to the conflict.

In a Congressional address in May, Cooper stated that Iran's capacity to consistently arm affiliated entities with sophisticated weaponry had diminished significantly.

The Iranian regime's overhaul remains uncertain as protesters were urged by Trump to take advantage of a crucial opportunity before the conflict escalated. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's passing on February 28 presented them with their most significant chance to seize power. The war will only conclude when Iran submits to unconditional surrender, accompanied by a new leader deemed acceptable.

Iran's theocratic government remains firmly entrenched despite the war's outcome. The change in leadership, with Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei taking over from his father, has led Trump to declare a significant achievement. He described this shift as marking the beginning of a more moderate and pragmatic era on March 29.

In recent weeks, President Trump has noticeably muted his demands for regime change in Iran.