US academic warns war with Iran could be prolonged and complex

John Mearsheimer has warned that expectations of a swift end to the war with Iran or the collapse of the Iranian state are “illusions,” arguing that the conflict remains in its early and uncertain stages. The prominent international relations professor said that current assessments suggesting a quick resolution are premature and potentially misleading, given the nature of conflicts involving regional and global powers. Mearsheimer emphasized that Iran’s geographic scale and dispersed military infrastructure make it difficult to decisively weaken through rapid strikes, adding that even sustained military operations would be unlikely to fully dismantle its capabilities. He also argued that the United States and its allies may have overestimated their ability to achieve a quick victory, noting that Iran retains […]