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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Conflict & Security

Trump’s Iran Strategy: Could It Become a Forever War?

From Tempo · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Analysis Named sources Ongoing story
  • US forces have again attacked Iranian air-defense, radar, maritime, mine-laying and communications targets, while Iran has responded with rockets and drones against US facilities in the region.
  • Washington is considering periodic limited strikes to stop Tehran from rebuilding military capabilities around the Strait of Hormuz, a concept described as “mowing the grass.”
  • Analysts cited in the article warn that the approach could lead to an enduring low-intensity conflict because Iran can repair or replace damaged systems.

The United States may be moving toward a war in Iran without a clear endpoint: strike, wait for Tehran to rebuild, and strike again.

US President Donald Trump offered a blunt description of the approach after the latest wave of attacks. Iran had tried to rebuild its radar equipment, he said, adding, “We waited until it was almost built, and then we hit it.” On Tuesday, American forces again attacked targets in Iran, including air-defense sites, radar systems, maritime assets, mine-laying capabilities and communications facilities, according to US Central Command.

Iran responded with rockets and drones aimed at US facilities in the region. The exchange reflects a strategy that officials had already indicated could shape the next phase of the conflict. Axios reported that Washington was considering limited strikes at regular intervals, if necessary, to prevent Iran from restoring its military capabilities around the Strait of Hormuz.

We waited until it was almost built, and then we hit it.

· Donald TrumpThe US president described the timing of an attack on Iranian radar reconstruction.

An American government representative called the concept “mowing the grass,” borrowing a term from Israeli security policy. The idea does not promise to defeat an opponent permanently. Instead, military capabilities are reduced whenever they grow strong enough to pose a manageable threat again.

The United States has achieved military gains in recent months. Its forces have weakened Iran’s capabilities in the Strait of Hormuz and begun clearing Iranian sea mines. But those gains may not last. Tehran is repairing or acquiring radar installations, anti-aircraft positions and anti-ship missiles. Targeted strikes can destroy important sites, yet they cannot eliminate the knowledge and industrial base behind Iran’s military technology.

That leaves Washington with the same choice each time Iran rebuilds: accept the recovery or attack again. Mona Yacoubian of the Center for Strategic and International Studies warned in April that the pattern could become “an enduring low-intensity conflict punctuated by more intensive interventions.” The strategy also faces a basic limitation: Israel developed it for non-state groups such as Hamas, not for a state with its own military and industrial capacity.

an enduring low-intensity conflict punctuated by more intensive interventions

· Mona YacoubianThe CSIS Middle East program director warned about the possible long-term pattern of the conflict.
About this summary

Originally published by Tempo in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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