How many times has Trump told this “We’ve destroyed Iran” fairy tale? In this complex war—which social media users have dubbed “Operation Epstein”—the picture that emerges as the fog of war lifts is very different from what Washington and Tel Aviv had expected. As we enter the 23rd day of the operation, the toll reveals not the White House’s rosy picture, but a bitter truth—tables cannot hide the truth behind lies.
Economic Confession: Why Did the Sanctions Fail?
The greatest irony of the war was that the United States was forced to tear down the “sanctions walls” it had built with its own hands. The quiet shelving of sanctions on Russian and Iranian oil is the most concrete evidence of the West’s energy dilemma. Today, Iran announced that it would allow ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for payment in Chinese yuan—a move that nets Iran a profit of $2 million per ship. If ships are paying a $2 million “transit fee,” it means sovereignty over that strait has changed hands. This is not merely a fee; it is a testament to the rewriting of the regional balance of power.
The $2 trillion wiped off the stock markets—as I mentioned in my previous article, this is money flowing to arms companies—but it’s not just about the numbers; this rapid shift in capital represents a loss of confidence by global capital in American military hegemony. The true cost of the war is not revealed by the operational claims circulating on social media, but by the price paid by ships passing through the strait and the money that has evaporated from the markets.
The End of the F-35 Myth and the Vietnam Syndrome
There is talk that the F-35s, which were marketed for years as “invisible” and “invincible,” have turned into technological wrecks on the battlefield. Arguments that fifth-generation fighter jets have failed to establish the expected superiority against drone and missile attacks are gaining traction. It has been observed that even bases 4,000 kilometers away can be targeted; Iran’s message is very clear: America is no longer ’untouchable.“.
Although military sources have refrained from providing exact figures, leaked information indicates more than 1,000 fatalities and over 700 wounded. Every attack on U.S. bases is not merely a military move; it is a message that ’you are no longer safe here.’ As Iran moves toward becoming a “Second Vietnam” for the United States, the smooth completion of the post-Khamenei transition has dashed the hopes of those anticipating the regime’s collapse. “A Young Khamenei has taken Khamenei’s place,” demonstrating that, contrary to the expectations of the U.S. and Israeli governments, Iran has maintained its internal stability.
War of Attrition
Instead of a direct field battle, Iran is pursuing a strategy of “gradual attrition” that wears down the West economically and psychologically. This strategy renders traditional narratives of war, rhetoric of “annihilation,” and promises of quick results obsolete. Technological superiority can prove powerless in the face of asymmetric warfare tactics. Within the complex fabric of the Middle East, an equation is taking shape where it is not the one who speaks the loudest who wins, but the one who waits patiently. In other words, the result is
We see that those with massive military budgets on paper have become mired in a quagmire of logistics and strategy on the ground. The winner of this war will not be the one who fires the most missiles, but the one who can stay in the fight the longest and maintain control of the energy corridor. And right now, the odds are stacked against Washington and Tel Aviv.
The true balance sheet isn’t just Trump’s “we destroyed them” fairy tales. It’s evident in the number of soldiers wounded at the bases, the toll paid by ships passing through the strait, and the money that has evaporated from global markets. A new world order is taking shape in the Middle East, and the architects of this order are no longer confined to Western capitals.
In summary, Day 23 of the operation:
-Sanctions on Russian oil have been lifted.
-Sanctions on Iranian oil have been lifted.
-Ships pay Iran $2 million to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
-$2 trillion evaporated from the stock market
-It has been proven that the F-35 is ineffective against drones and rockets.
-U.S. bases are under constant attack.
-700 U.S. soldiers were wounded; there is no clear information on the death toll
-Iran is on its way to becoming a second Vietnam.
-Khamenei was replaced by Khamenei.
Who do you think will win?