Wars are not decided only on the battlefield; sometimes the biggest defeats are the product of miscalculations and overconfidence in military power. In recent years, the idea has repeatedly emerged in Washington that military superiority can replace accurate understanding of geopolitical realities and the will of regional actors. This same mentaltiy has previously faced the United States with profound challenges in Iraq and Afghanistan. Some decision-making circles in the United States believed that military strikes could break Iran’s deterrence structure and force Tehran to accept Washington’s demands. Regional actors have been able to create a variety of means of response, and this has significantly increased the cost of using military power.