Does Iran Have a Plan?
The article analyzes the U.S. military strategy regarding Iran, noting a shift in tactics following initial failures. It discusses the relocation of military bases to more stable regional allies to better manage the ongoing conflict.
Why it matters
Provides insight into shifting geopolitical tensions and military strategy in the Middle East.
The U.S is subtly shifting its strategy for round two.
Morteza Nikoubazl / NurPhoto Getty July 24, 2026, 3:22 PM ET Share Save “No plan survives first contact with the enemy” is a military dictum usually credited to Field Marshal Helmuth von Moltke the Elder, and more recently to the boxer Mike Tyson in the form “Everyone has a plan until he gets punched in the mouth.” The United States, in its war with Iran, is an unusual counterexample, insofar as it appears that the Trump administration did not have a plan. It did however get punched in the mouth, and spat bloody Chiclets out all over the document it was forced to sign last month, pausing the war on terms favorable to Iran.
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