Hanson backs claim that U.S. pressure has already crippled Iran’s war capacity

Victor Davis Hanson’s recent commentary supports the author’s earlier argument that the United States has already won against Iran by imposing relentless economic pressure and maintaining air superiority. He highlights that sanctions and embargoes are depriving Tehran of over $400 million in daily revenue, a loss the regime cannot sustain. Hanson breaks down the regional air balance, showing more than 700 combat jets in the Gulf states, about 300 in Israel—including F-35s—and roughly 300 on U.S. bases, while Iran lacks functional combat aircraft or air defenses.

He adds that ongoing pipeline construction will soon circumvent the Strait of Hormuz, nullifying Iran’s choke-point strategy. Using the film “Force 10 From Navarone” as a metaphor, Hanson describes the current U.S. approach as a precise, limited strike that exploits Iran’s structural weaknesses. The column concludes that further small, targeted actions could finish the process without a full-scale war, and that the current administration’s decisions will determine the final outcome.